Foreword: This build was born from my interest in the Dragon Age 2 Merrill specialization "Elven Paraiah" and the Rogue Specialization "Ranger" from Origins. My goal was to use the basis for these classes and meld them into a character that could fluidly embody both at once. I also pulled some inspiration from "The Viridian Witch" build by Oneness. It was one of the first nature builds I played in Skyrim and remains to be one of favorites to this day.
The resulting outcome of the build is an archer who is capable of controling and supporting multiple animal companions and summons whilst dealing out a devastating amount of poison damage be it from poisoned arrow or spell.
Moss green eyes locked in a mournful stare. A lingering kiss on the forehead. A scarlet red cloak fluttering in the wind amidst a wash of silver- gold locks. Distant memories of a distant time.…
Ivriel smothered the last smoldering embers and retired for the eve. Tomorrow would come too soon, and with it the usual hapless villagers from Ivarstead, wanting her to cure their ailments, bless their crops, mix a tonic, or breathe new life into an over worked oxen. Each day brought more of the same— linear, boring… everyday life. and yet, a thrill of excitement burned in her belly, one she couldn’t explain. Ivriel closed her eyes and sent thoughts scrying out through winds of change in the air…
Another Autumn Rift morning dawned sharp and clear—a warm, amber sunrise and a chilling breeze and earth that crackled underfoot like shattered glass, shimmering with shades of liquid gold and ruby and topaz. Melting frost fell like raindrops on a nearby icy stream.
Moss-green eyes and tear-stained gloves, gentle hands pulling away from a chubby-fingered grasp.
Ivriel shook away the unwanted memory, and supplanted it, as she always did, with thoughts of Anise. Anise had found her, long ago, on such a morning, and taken her in. Raised her as her own, and Ivriel owed her life to the crafty Nord witch. From her, Ivriel learned the way of the land and the ways of magic. Of the balance inherent in the world – to save a life, one must understand how to take it. To understand Nirn, one must learn the ways of man and mer and beast. Of Divines and the Daedra, for even the Planes of Oblivion traversed the paths of life.
Ivriel offered up a murmur of thanks to Anise as she snipped sprigs of frost mirriam and wondered…what would she do if she found a babe on a cold morning, shivering and abandoned in an Autumn frost? Would she raise the babe as her own? Teach her, love her, as Anise had, so many years ago?
-tap-tap-tap-
A doe knocked its hoof against the ice-crusted stream. Ivriel blinked, Anise and the babe she’d once been finally fading into memory. The doe watched Ivriel with liquid black eyes and lowered its head in invitation. Ivriel approached – slowly, reverently – and took off her glove, stroking the doe’s soft, brown neck. But the moment wasn’t to last. A rush of wings and feathers shattered the quiet, and the doe scampered away.
Ivriel crouched – a predator? A hunter? No, something felt…wrong. The thrill of excitement burned in her belly again and she swallowed it down, good sense winning over adventure. No adventure to be had these days, anyway, with Vigilants in town, thickening the air into a miasma of righteousness and hypocrisy. Dissatisfied with hunting Daedra worshippers, they’d turned their attention toward solitary mages – herbalists, alchemists.
Like Anise. Like her.
The peasants of Ivarstead might depend on her cures, but they did not trust outsiders or “knife-eared witches,” as she’d heard herself described. And she didn’t trust them to turn down a purse full of gold, or hold up under a Vigilant’s thinly-veiled threat. The only certainty of life in Skyrim was violence – Stormcloaks and Imperials fighting on the roads, Thalmor justiciars sniffing out heresy. Bears. Wolves. No, they’d take the gold offered and tell the Vigilants what they wanted to hear.
Ivriel eased out of her crouch and started back toward her hut. She found the quiet of the woods no longer peaceful, but eerie and tight. Her very bones tingled with warning. A nearby bush rustled. She spun around, and purple mist between her fingers coalesced into an ethereal bow. Her breath came in short gasps as she scanned the woods – the empty woods. Shivers crept over her spine. Someone else was there, someone who shouldn’t be. The animals of her forest knew her, accepted her, wouldn’t run from her. But others? A few steps more, and she heard another rustle and a flash of blue. A bawdy laugh.
Ivriel let out a long exhale and relaxed her grip. Stormcloak soldiers, a pair of them. But they didn’t bother her – she could sneak past them as easily as the mist, especially when they desired nothing more than ale and a bed of warm furs after a night’s patrol.
She smiled and watched them walk down to Ivarstead. She turned back toward her hut. Her smile faded. Smoke drifted from the chimney yet she was certain she had smothered her fire before she left that morning. She edged closer, under the trees, and squinted through a window.
Two figures stood near the firepit – one wore a hood which obscured his face, but the other was a middle-aged Nord with a receding hairline, a great maul was slung over his shoulder. The thrill of excitement in her belly boiled over in fear and anger. The bow in her hand blinked back to Oblivion, and she crept closer, green light flashing at her fingertips“Not like this, Not now. I will not be snuffed out by zealots on a mad crusade.”.
The green light in Ivriel’s hands flared, and a moment later the hut filled with a blast of poisonous magic. The Nord coughed and gagged. “Argh, Tolan! It’s the knife- eared bitch, sh- ”
A shimmering arrow erupted through the back of his neck and the Nord collapsed, clutching his ruined throat. Gouts of blood spilled out on the earthen floor.
“My earthen floor,” she thought, and turned flashing her green eyes on the Nord’s companion – the one he’d named Tolan – rushing from her hut. She ran after him and barely escaped the arc of his maul as he doubled back just outside the door.
He screamed and struggled to regain his balance. “You’ll pay for that, witch!”
“Maybe. One day,” Ivriel hissed, her throat tight with icy conviction. The ethereal bow faded once more and she raised her hands, a green light shimmering around her palms. The ground trembled and cracked and a dozen vines slithered free and wound around the Vigilant’s chest. “But today, this is my forest and you are not welcome. Leave now and I will spare your life.”
Tolan gasped and spat at her feet. “This is not your forest, elf. This is Nord land and it is you who are unwelcome!”
Ivriel closed her fist and vines tightened around Tolan’s throat. “So be it,” she said grimly and motioned with her hand, purple mist wreathing her fingers. A great wolf padded to her side. Another gesture, and the wolf stepped closer to the Vigilant, until the two stood face to face. The wolf’s breath steamed through bared teeth in the cold morning air. Slaver streamed from its jaws. Ivriel tilted her head and sneered. “You will die a fool. A fool who was given the chance to lea—“
-thrum-
A crossbow quarrel whistled past and pierced the wolf’s side. The beast yelped and sank to its knees. Ivriel spun on her heel and summoned her bow. Three hooded figures garbed in robes and mail strode toward the hut.
Tolan screamed through labored breath and flung an arm toward Ivriel. “Kill her! Kill the witch!”
This time, the quarrel missed its mark, finding purchase in the wall of her hut. She whispered a spell and her flesh turned to armor of stone. Her own arrow flew true, knocking the Vigilant bowman to the ground. Blood spurted through his fingers as he grasped at his chest. After that, everything blurred into fire spells and whizzing arrows and the smell of blood and burned cloth. In the midst of the confusion, Ivriel’s wolf lunged at the Vigilant mage, savaging his arm in his jaws. With no flames to dodge, Ivriel took careful aim and took the mage down with an arrow to the throat.
A yelp sounded behind her, followed by a whoosh as her wolf collapsed into purple mist. The third Vigilant held a bloody flanged mace, and grinned. “Give it up, knife-ear, you’ve lost!”
Ivriel heard a rustling and turned, keeping one eye on the bloody mace. Tolan had freed himself from her vines and the two Vigilants paced around her, tightening their circle with each turn. “I would advise you pray for mercy,” seethed Tolan. “But Stendarr does not grant it to the likes of you, foul witch!”
Ivriel wasted no time on prayer. She drew her bow and loosed. Her arrow pierced the maced Vigilant’s shoulder. He screamed and staggered, but Tolan charged, sweeping Ivriel’s legs out from under. Her head crashed to the ground and when her vision cleared, all she saw was the sky. “Beautiful and blue,” she thought, “like winter roses.”
The maul crashed down on her chest.
Ivriel gasped and forced her eyes open. A sharp pain stabbed through her chest and she wheezed, blood dribbling from her mouth and down her chin. She struggled to rise and her vision darkened again as the pain in her chest and head almost dragged her back down. Eventually, she hobbled to her hut. Stoneware and broken glass littered the floor, and parchment soaked into a pool of fresh blood on the floor.
“At least I gave as good as I got,” she thought, remembering the old Nord she’d killed. “One shot, too.” She winced, baring bloody teeth as another wave of pain nearly doubled her over.
Ivriel slapped a hand over her chest and sighed as a golden glow sank into her skin. “But that won’t last long. I have to find herbs. Need something stronger.” Her hand glowed golden over her chest once more, and she managed to stand.
The door clicked shut behind Ivriel. She took one step, then another, toward the forest. As she’d done hundreds of times before. But this time was different. This time she had a plan.
This time…this time, she wouldn’t stop. Not until she’d reached the Hall of the Vigilants. And left none alive.
Essential Mods:
Ordinator: Ordinator completely revamps the perk system in the game and is an essential piece to the build
Apocalyspe: Apocalyspe add's dozens and dozens of new spells to use in Skyrim. The poison spells are an essential part of Ivriel's arsenal.
Andromeda: Overhauls vanilla Standing Stones allowing for all-new roleplaying options. Each stone feels truly unique and can't be replicated like most of the vanilla stones could.
Imperious: Breathes new life into the racial system, including new racial attributes, passives and unlockable abilities via a race specific quest.
Wintersun: Wintersun adds a complex religon system into the game, that allows you to meditate and worship a chosen deity.
20 pct more Perk Points: A well-balanced option in my opinion when used with Ordinator installed. There are many new perks to choose, and having an extra skill point to spend every five levels helps to get those perks that would otherwise take a few more level ups to get.
USSEP: Not a lot to say with this one. It fixes a lot of issues and also makes Miraaks's Robes, well, robes instead of light armor.
Recommended Mods:
Alternate Start: With this installed you can pick one of several scenarios on how to start your character's story off in Skyrim. For Ivriel I chose the Attacked and left for dead scenario, which fits in with her backstory having been attacked by the Vigilant's of Stedarr. Conveniently I started off in the Rift, but it is radomised so you may start anywhere. Alternatively you could use the Camping in the Woods start instead.
Hedge Mage Armor: The Hedge Mage Armor, are great starting robes for Ivriel, and suits her rugged nature.
Wildcat: Overhauls damage and many combat features and allows you to customize your combat experience.
Mortal Enemies: Tweaks enemy AI and hitboxes creating more fluent combat.
Rebalanced Encounter Zones: Essentially this randomizes enemy leveling, generally making most encounters much tougher.
Thunderchild: Adds in 30 new shouts and several mini quests that can unlock additional shout-related powers.
Awesome Artifacts: Adds a little bit more oomph to some of the less appreciated items in Skyrim.
Bosmer: With imperious races installed Ivriel will start with several race specefic abilities. She will have a harrier bird that will mark targets and weaken thier armor in battle. I t will also mark animals in the wild for Ivriel to hunt. As a bosmer she is able to detect moving targets whilst sneaking. And she can invoke the Green Pact to eat the corspes of slain humanoid npc's. I'll note that I did not use the ability to eat corspes as in my play through she did not adhere to the Green Pact. Lastly Ivriel will ublock the "Beast Tounge" ability after hunting ten marked animals that the harrier has revealed. This will allow her to permenantly tame a nearby animal of her choosing until she releases it or it is slain.
Name: Ivriel
Gender: Female
Age: 32
Standing Stone: The Apprentice - The unpredictable and turbulent nature of The Apprentice stone suits the unconvential ways Ivriel has learned to employ her magic. The stone grants the Prodigy passive effect which lowers overall spell cost by 15% and enables free casting of novice spells. The Sorcerer's Apprentice passive ability gives the interesting effect of any spells cast being 50% more effective or 50% less effective than intended. (The former is more likely.)
Religious Views: Being raised by the hermit nord witch Anise Ivriel was taught to worship Hircine, Kyne and the Old Ways of the Nords. This means she does not follow the Green Pact or Y'ffre's teachings, and in fact knows very little of Bosmer culture. When it comes to choosing a religon from the Wintersun mod, Hircine or Kynareth are both appropriate chocies. Unfortunately The Old Ways are locked to races who are not Nord or Breton thus this doesnot allow Ivriel to gain the full benefeits of The Old Ways. She can still get the blessing from the shrine however.
Morality/Personality: True Neutral. Ivriel tries not to involve herself with the matters of others, which often leads to her being labled as indifferent. She enjoy's her solitude and communing with the creatures of the forest. She will help those who come to her for aid but never for free. What that price entails is not necessarily always gold, but things she may need for her alchemical experiments or just general supplies. She will stand her ground when threatened or taken advantage of. If someone is in need of aid she will often weigh whether helping them or the assailant will benefit her or other's the most. She tries to stick to the belief that there is balance in all things, and will try to keep the scales as even as possible so as to not disturb that balance.
Destroy the Vigilants of Stendarr: After being attacked and left for dead Ivriel has decided to show no mercy to the vigil. Attack thier hall (before the vampires), Stendarr's Beacon and any patroling the roads of skyrim.
White Phial: The old Altmer in Windhelm is well known as a renowned alchemist, Ivriel makes the trip to see if she might learn more from him. She discovers the tale of an ancient alchemical artifact and helps him in recovering it.
A Return To Your Roots: As she was exploring the ancient ruins of Black Reach, Ivriel stumbled across an interesting and very unique specimen of nirn root. She strives to find out more of this intiguing plant.
Kynes Sacred Trials: Froki an elderly nord hunter who lives near Ivriels shack wishes to impart some knowlege of kyne, Ivriel gladly accepts.
Blessings of Nature: Ivriel reveres Kyne and upon finding out the fate of gildergreen she seeks to help Danica restore it to it's former glory.
Labrynthian (Diadem of the Savant): While on one her visits to the college Ivriel heard tell of a lost artifact in the ruins Labryntian. She seeks it out to claim for her self.
Main Quest (At least to High Hrothgar): When Ivriel comes across the smoldering remains of Helgen she finds herself caught up in matters beyond simple wars but a the literal fate of the Nirn itself.
Dragon Born: When hired assassins ambush her Ivriel seeks to learn who sent them and stop them by whatever means necessary. She finds more than she bargained for and learns some valuable new magic along the way.
College of Winterhold: Ivriel will seek to join to gain access to some of the available tomes the college offers. She is not comfortble with all of the confinement and strict learning so often will simply come and go as she pleases preffering the wide open spaces of the wild to train her craft.
Early Game Gear:
Mid to End Game Gear:
Other Items:
Spells - (Apocalyspe Spells and CC content are marked with *)
Restoration
Conjuration
Alteration
Destruction/Illusion
Shouts
Potions
Poisons
Special Poison
Attributes: 2:1:2
Major Skills
Alchemy - Taught from a young age to use all that Nirn provided for her. Ivriel has been experimenting with alchemical reagents for years, and has thus become a master alchemist in her own right.
Perks of Note:
Conjuration - Being at one with the creatures of nirn, Ivriel can summon powerful spirit animals to aid her in battle. She also can manifest an arcane bow to strike down those who would mean her harm.
Perks of Note:
Archery - Ivriel taught herself to handle a bow from a young age. Her Bosmeri blood and keen eyes giving her a natural edge at marksmanship. Not only that but she has also learned to bind her spells to the arrows she looses
Perks of Note:
Restoration - Taught to harness the essence of nature itself Ivriel can heal just as easily as she can harm. knitting the wounds of those around her or subduing foes with powerful toxins.
Perks of Note:
Minor Skills
Speech - Growing up in the wilds Ivriel has a strong connection to all kinds of wildlife. She also is able to use the Thu'um to restore some vital energies when needed.
Perks of Note:
Illusion - Ivriel is able to inspire her animal's tamed or summoned to fight with greater tenacity and never flee.
Perks of Note:
Alteration - Through the use of Alteration Ivriel has learned to manipulate nature itself. She can turn her flesh hard as iron, and even use knowledge from the school to empower all other magics.
Perks of Note:
Destruction - Having learned the basics of destruction magic Ivriel is able to inscribe multiple noxious poison runes further away.
Perk of Note:
Foreword: This build was born from my interest in the Dragon Age 2 Merrill specialization "Elven Paraiah" and the Rogue Specialization "Ranger" from Origins. My goal was to use the basis for these classes and meld them into a character that could fluidly embody both at once. I also pulled some inspiration from "The Viridian Witch" build by Oneness. It was one of the first nature builds I played in Skyrim and remains to be one of favorites to this day.
The resulting outcome of the build is an archer who is capable of controling and supporting multiple animal companions and summons whilst dealing out a devastating amount of poison damage be it from poisoned arrow or spell.
Moss green eyes locked in a mournful stare. A lingering kiss on the forehead. A scarlet red cloak fluttering in the wind amidst a wash of silver- gold locks. Distant memories of a distant time.…
Ivriel smothered the last smoldering embers and retired for the eve. Tomorrow would come too soon, and with it the usual hapless villagers from Ivarstead, wanting her to cure their ailments, bless their crops, mix a tonic, or breathe new life into an over worked oxen. Each day brought more of the same— linear, boring… everyday life. and yet, a thrill of excitement burned in her belly, one she couldn’t explain. Ivriel closed her eyes and sent thoughts scrying out through winds of change in the air…
Another Autumn Rift morning dawned sharp and clear—a warm, amber sunrise and a chilling breeze and earth that crackled underfoot like shattered glass, shimmering with shades of liquid gold and ruby and topaz. Melting frost fell like raindrops on a nearby icy stream.
Moss-green eyes and tear-stained gloves, gentle hands pulling away from a chubby-fingered grasp.
Ivriel shook away the unwanted memory, and supplanted it, as she always did, with thoughts of Anise. Anise had found her, long ago, on such a morning, and taken her in. Raised her as her own, and Ivriel owed her life to the crafty Nord witch. From her, Ivriel learned the way of the land and the ways of magic. Of the balance inherent in the world – to save a life, one must understand how to take it. To understand Nirn, one must learn the ways of man and mer and beast. Of Divines and the Daedra, for even the Planes of Oblivion traversed the paths of life.
Ivriel offered up a murmur of thanks to Anise as she snipped sprigs of frost mirriam and wondered…what would she do if she found a babe on a cold morning, shivering and abandoned in an Autumn frost? Would she raise the babe as her own? Teach her, love her, as Anise had, so many years ago?
-tap-tap-tap-
A doe knocked its hoof against the ice-crusted stream. Ivriel blinked, Anise and the babe she’d once been finally fading into memory. The doe watched Ivriel with liquid black eyes and lowered its head in invitation. Ivriel approached – slowly, reverently – and took off her glove, stroking the doe’s soft, brown neck. But the moment wasn’t to last. A rush of wings and feathers shattered the quiet, and the doe scampered away.
Ivriel crouched – a predator? A hunter? No, something felt…wrong. The thrill of excitement burned in her belly again and she swallowed it down, good sense winning over adventure. No adventure to be had these days, anyway, with Vigilants in town, thickening the air into a miasma of righteousness and hypocrisy. Dissatisfied with hunting Daedra worshippers, they’d turned their attention toward solitary mages – herbalists, alchemists.
Like Anise. Like her.
The peasants of Ivarstead might depend on her cures, but they did not trust outsiders or “knife-eared witches,” as she’d heard herself described. And she didn’t trust them to turn down a purse full of gold, or hold up under a Vigilant’s thinly-veiled threat. The only certainty of life in Skyrim was violence – Stormcloaks and Imperials fighting on the roads, Thalmor justiciars sniffing out heresy. Bears. Wolves. No, they’d take the gold offered and tell the Vigilants what they wanted to hear.
Ivriel eased out of her crouch and started back toward her hut. She found the quiet of the woods no longer peaceful, but eerie and tight. Her very bones tingled with warning. A nearby bush rustled. She spun around, and purple mist between her fingers coalesced into an ethereal bow. Her breath came in short gasps as she scanned the woods – the empty woods. Shivers crept over her spine. Someone else was there, someone who shouldn’t be. The animals of her forest knew her, accepted her, wouldn’t run from her. But others? A few steps more, and she heard another rustle and a flash of blue. A bawdy laugh.
Ivriel let out a long exhale and relaxed her grip. Stormcloak soldiers, a pair of them. But they didn’t bother her – she could sneak past them as easily as the mist, especially when they desired nothing more than ale and a bed of warm furs after a night’s patrol.
She smiled and watched them walk down to Ivarstead. She turned back toward her hut. Her smile faded. Smoke drifted from the chimney yet she was certain she had smothered her fire before she left that morning. She edged closer, under the trees, and squinted through a window.
Two figures stood near the firepit – one wore a hood which obscured his face, but the other was a middle-aged Nord with a receding hairline, a great maul was slung over his shoulder. The thrill of excitement in her belly boiled over in fear and anger. The bow in her hand blinked back to Oblivion, and she crept closer, green light flashing at her fingertips“Not like this, Not now. I will not be snuffed out by zealots on a mad crusade.”.
The green light in Ivriel’s hands flared, and a moment later the hut filled with a blast of poisonous magic. The Nord coughed and gagged. “Argh, Tolan! It’s the knife- eared bitch, sh- ”
A shimmering arrow erupted through the back of his neck and the Nord collapsed, clutching his ruined throat. Gouts of blood spilled out on the earthen floor.
“My earthen floor,” she thought, and turned flashing her green eyes on the Nord’s companion – the one he’d named Tolan – rushing from her hut. She ran after him and barely escaped the arc of his maul as he doubled back just outside the door.
He screamed and struggled to regain his balance. “You’ll pay for that, witch!”
“Maybe. One day,” Ivriel hissed, her throat tight with icy conviction. The ethereal bow faded once more and she raised her hands, a green light shimmering around her palms. The ground trembled and cracked and a dozen vines slithered free and wound around the Vigilant’s chest. “But today, this is my forest and you are not welcome. Leave now and I will spare your life.”
Tolan gasped and spat at her feet. “This is not your forest, elf. This is Nord land and it is you who are unwelcome!”
Ivriel closed her fist and vines tightened around Tolan’s throat. “So be it,” she said grimly and motioned with her hand, purple mist wreathing her fingers. A great wolf padded to her side. Another gesture, and the wolf stepped closer to the Vigilant, until the two stood face to face. The wolf’s breath steamed through bared teeth in the cold morning air. Slaver streamed from its jaws. Ivriel tilted her head and sneered. “You will die a fool. A fool who was given the chance to lea—“
-thrum-
A crossbow quarrel whistled past and pierced the wolf’s side. The beast yelped and sank to its knees. Ivriel spun on her heel and summoned her bow. Three hooded figures garbed in robes and mail strode toward the hut.
Tolan screamed through labored breath and flung an arm toward Ivriel. “Kill her! Kill the witch!”
This time, the quarrel missed its mark, finding purchase in the wall of her hut. She whispered a spell and her flesh turned to armor of stone. Her own arrow flew true, knocking the Vigilant bowman to the ground. Blood spurted through his fingers as he grasped at his chest. After that, everything blurred into fire spells and whizzing arrows and the smell of blood and burned cloth. In the midst of the confusion, Ivriel’s wolf lunged at the Vigilant mage, savaging his arm in his jaws. With no flames to dodge, Ivriel took careful aim and took the mage down with an arrow to the throat.
A yelp sounded behind her, followed by a whoosh as her wolf collapsed into purple mist. The third Vigilant held a bloody flanged mace, and grinned. “Give it up, knife-ear, you’ve lost!”
Ivriel heard a rustling and turned, keeping one eye on the bloody mace. Tolan had freed himself from her vines and the two Vigilants paced around her, tightening their circle with each turn. “I would advise you pray for mercy,” seethed Tolan. “But Stendarr does not grant it to the likes of you, foul witch!”
Ivriel wasted no time on prayer. She drew her bow and loosed. Her arrow pierced the maced Vigilant’s shoulder. He screamed and staggered, but Tolan charged, sweeping Ivriel’s legs out from under. Her head crashed to the ground and when her vision cleared, all she saw was the sky. “Beautiful and blue,” she thought, “like winter roses.”
The maul crashed down on her chest.
Ivriel gasped and forced her eyes open. A sharp pain stabbed through her chest and she wheezed, blood dribbling from her mouth and down her chin. She struggled to rise and her vision darkened again as the pain in her chest and head almost dragged her back down. Eventually, she hobbled to her hut. Stoneware and broken glass littered the floor, and parchment soaked into a pool of fresh blood on the floor.
“At least I gave as good as I got,” she thought, remembering the old Nord she’d killed. “One shot, too.” She winced, baring bloody teeth as another wave of pain nearly doubled her over.
Ivriel slapped a hand over her chest and sighed as a golden glow sank into her skin. “But that won’t last long. I have to find herbs. Need something stronger.” Her hand glowed golden over her chest once more, and she managed to stand.
The door clicked shut behind Ivriel. She took one step, then another, toward the forest. As she’d done hundreds of times before. But this time was different. This time she had a plan.
This time…this time, she wouldn’t stop. Not until she’d reached the Hall of the Vigilants. And left none alive.
Essential Mods:
Ordinator: Ordinator completely revamps the perk system in the game and is an essential piece to the build
Apocalyspe: Apocalyspe add's dozens and dozens of new spells to use in Skyrim. The poison spells are an essential part of Ivriel's arsenal.
Andromeda: Overhauls vanilla Standing Stones allowing for all-new roleplaying options. Each stone feels truly unique and can't be replicated like most of the vanilla stones could.
Imperious: Breathes new life into the racial system, including new racial attributes, passives and unlockable abilities via a race specific quest.
Wintersun: Wintersun adds a complex religon system into the game, that allows you to meditate and worship a chosen deity.
20 pct more Perk Points: A well-balanced option in my opinion when used with Ordinator installed. There are many new perks to choose, and having an extra skill point to spend every five levels helps to get those perks that would otherwise take a few more level ups to get.
USSEP: Not a lot to say with this one. It fixes a lot of issues and also makes Miraaks's Robes, well, robes instead of light armor.
Recommended Mods:
Alternate Start: With this installed you can pick one of several scenarios on how to start your character's story off in Skyrim. For Ivriel I chose the Attacked and left for dead scenario, which fits in with her backstory having been attacked by the Vigilant's of Stedarr. Conveniently I started off in the Rift, but it is radomised so you may start anywhere. Alternatively you could use the Camping in the Woods start instead.
Hedge Mage Armor: The Hedge Mage Armor, are great starting robes for Ivriel, and suits her rugged nature.
Wildcat: Overhauls damage and many combat features and allows you to customize your combat experience.
Mortal Enemies: Tweaks enemy AI and hitboxes creating more fluent combat.
Rebalanced Encounter Zones: Essentially this randomizes enemy leveling, generally making most encounters much tougher.
Thunderchild: Adds in 30 new shouts and several mini quests that can unlock additional shout-related powers.
Awesome Artifacts: Adds a little bit more oomph to some of the less appreciated items in Skyrim.
Bosmer: With imperious races installed Ivriel will start with several race specefic abilities. She will have a harrier bird that will mark targets and weaken thier armor in battle. I t will also mark animals in the wild for Ivriel to hunt. As a bosmer she is able to detect moving targets whilst sneaking. And she can invoke the Green Pact to eat the corspes of slain humanoid npc's. I'll note that I did not use the ability to eat corspes as in my play through she did not adhere to the Green Pact. Lastly Ivriel will ublock the "Beast Tounge" ability after hunting ten marked animals that the harrier has revealed. This will allow her to permenantly tame a nearby animal of her choosing until she releases it or it is slain.
Name: Ivriel
Gender: Female
Age: 32
Standing Stone: The Apprentice - The unpredictable and turbulent nature of The Apprentice stone suits the unconvential ways Ivriel has learned to employ her magic. The stone grants the Prodigy passive effect which lowers overall spell cost by 15% and enables free casting of novice spells. The Sorcerer's Apprentice passive ability gives the interesting effect of any spells cast being 50% more effective or 50% less effective than intended. (The former is more likely.)
Religious Views: Being raised by the hermit nord witch Anise Ivriel was taught to worship Hircine, Kyne and the Old Ways of the Nords. This means she does not follow the Green Pact or Y'ffre's teachings, and in fact knows very little of Bosmer culture. When it comes to choosing a religon from the Wintersun mod, Hircine or Kynareth are both appropriate chocies. Unfortunately The Old Ways are locked to races who are not Nord or Breton thus this doesnot allow Ivriel to gain the full benefeits of The Old Ways. She can still get the blessing from the shrine however.
Morality/Personality: True Neutral. Ivriel tries not to involve herself with the matters of others, which often leads to her being labled as indifferent. She enjoy's her solitude and communing with the creatures of the forest. She will help those who come to her for aid but never for free. What that price entails is not necessarily always gold, but things she may need for her alchemical experiments or just general supplies. She will stand her ground when threatened or taken advantage of. If someone is in need of aid she will often weigh whether helping them or the assailant will benefit her or other's the most. She tries to stick to the belief that there is balance in all things, and will try to keep the scales as even as possible so as to not disturb that balance.
Destroy the Vigilants of Stendarr: After being attacked and left for dead Ivriel has decided to show no mercy to the vigil. Attack thier hall (before the vampires), Stendarr's Beacon and any patroling the roads of skyrim.
White Phial: The old Altmer in Windhelm is well known as a renowned alchemist, Ivriel makes the trip to see if she might learn more from him. She discovers the tale of an ancient alchemical artifact and helps him in recovering it.
A Return To Your Roots: As she was exploring the ancient ruins of Black Reach, Ivriel stumbled across an interesting and very unique specimen of nirn root. She strives to find out more of this intiguing plant.
Kynes Sacred Trials: Froki an elderly nord hunter who lives near Ivriels shack wishes to impart some knowlege of kyne, Ivriel gladly accepts.
Blessings of Nature: Ivriel reveres Kyne and upon finding out the fate of gildergreen she seeks to help Danica restore it to it's former glory.
Labrynthian (Diadem of the Savant): While on one her visits to the college Ivriel heard tell of a lost artifact in the ruins Labryntian. She seeks it out to claim for her self.
Main Quest (At least to High Hrothgar): When Ivriel comes across the smoldering remains of Helgen she finds herself caught up in matters beyond simple wars but a the literal fate of the Nirn itself.
Dragon Born: When hired assassins ambush her Ivriel seeks to learn who sent them and stop them by whatever means necessary. She finds more than she bargained for and learns some valuable new magic along the way.
College of Winterhold: Ivriel will seek to join to gain access to some of the available tomes the college offers. She is not comfortble with all of the confinement and strict learning so often will simply come and go as she pleases preffering the wide open spaces of the wild to train her craft.
Early Game Gear:
Mid to End Game Gear:
Other Items:
Spells - (Apocalyspe Spells and CC content are marked with *)
Restoration
Conjuration
Alteration
Destruction/Illusion
Shouts
Potions
Poisons
Special Poison
Attributes: 2:1:2
Major Skills
Alchemy - Taught from a young age to use all that Nirn provided for her. Ivriel has been experimenting with alchemical reagents for years, and has thus become a master alchemist in her own right.
Perks of Note:
Conjuration - Being at one with the creatures of nirn, Ivriel can summon powerful spirit animals to aid her in battle. She also can manifest an arcane bow to strike down those who would mean her harm.
Perks of Note:
Archery - Ivriel taught herself to handle a bow from a young age. Her Bosmeri blood and keen eyes giving her a natural edge at marksmanship. Not only that but she has also learned to bind her spells to the arrows she looses
Perks of Note:
Restoration - Taught to harness the essence of nature itself Ivriel can heal just as easily as she can harm. knitting the wounds of those around her or subduing foes with powerful toxins.
Perks of Note:
Minor Skills
Speech - Growing up in the wilds Ivriel has a strong connection to all kinds of wildlife. She also is able to use the Thu'um to restore some vital energies when needed.
Perks of Note:
Illusion - Ivriel is able to inspire her animal's tamed or summoned to fight with greater tenacity and never flee.
Perks of Note:
Alteration - Through the use of Alteration Ivriel has learned to manipulate nature itself. She can turn her flesh hard as iron, and even use knowledge from the school to empower all other magics.
Perks of Note:
Destruction - Having learned the basics of destruction magic Ivriel is able to inscribe multiple noxious poison runes further away.
Perk of Note:
You've put a huge amount of work into this, Furrion, and your passion for this character really shines through! The backstory is excellent, and I like how you've tied that in with LAL's Attacked and Left for Dead option. Indeed, your Vigilants mean business and have all the zealotry they should have had in Skyrim, really allowing for this build to be read and immediately jumped into through Live Another Life. Your presentation is quite lovely, the banners and perkspreads being really easy on the eye along with the green text, and I like the depth with which you've explored Ivriel's spirituality. This feels like reading more than a build and that I'm looking at a much-loved and long-played character who has the effect of wanting me to play a Bosmer - something that doesn't happen often. Good work, dude, a true labour of love.
You've put a huge amount of work into this, Furrion, and your passion for this character really shines through! The backstory is excellent, and I like how you've tied that in with LAL's Attacked and Left for Dead option. Indeed, your Vigilants mean business and have all the zealotry they should have had in Skyrim, really allowing for this build to be read and immediately jumped into through Live Another Life. Your presentation is quite lovely, the banners and perkspreads being really easy on the eye along with the green text, and I like the depth with which you've explored Ivriel's spirituality. This feels like reading more than a build and that I'm looking at a much-loved and long-played character who has the effect of wanting me to play a Bosmer - something that doesn't happen often. Good work, dude, a true labour of love.
Sorry Furrion, would've prefered commenting earlier, just been a bit sick today and all. To be honest I'm going to struggle to say much just because of how much I've talked to you about it on Discord or in the Workshop, so a lot of my praise has already been said. Doesn't mean I can't say it again I suppose, but the build really is awesome man. Everything from the backstory, to the presentation to the really interesting ways you've demonstrated the rather unique combat style of the build. I can't really think of anything you haven't nailed with this build, it's just really great.
Can't wait to see your next build mate, because all of yours so far have been absoltely killer :D
Sorry Furrion, would've prefered commenting earlier, just been a bit sick today and all. To be honest I'm going to struggle to say much just because of how much I've talked to you about it on Discord or in the Workshop, so a lot of my praise has already been said. Doesn't mean I can't say it again I suppose, but the build really is awesome man. Everything from the backstory, to the presentation to the really interesting ways you've demonstrated the rather unique combat style of the build. I can't really think of anything you haven't nailed with this build, it's just really great.
Can't wait to see your next build mate, because all of yours so far have been absoltely killer :D
Paws said:You've put a huge amount of work into this, Furrion, and your passion for this character really shines through! The backstory is excellent, and I like how you've tied that in with LAL's Attacked and Left for Dead option. Indeed, your Vigilants mean business and have all the zealotry they should have had in Skyrim, really allowing for this build to be read and immediately jumped into through Live Another Life. Your presentation is quite lovely, the banners and perkspreads being really easy on the eye along with the green text, and I like the depth with which you've explored Ivriel's spirituality. This feels like reading more than a build and that I'm looking at a much-loved and long-played character who has the effect of wanting me to play a Bosmer - something that doesn't happen often. Good work, dude, a true labour of love.
Cheer's Phil, and thanks Heaaps for all your help with the text wrapping, and helping decide on that one last peasky picture. Very glad you enjoyed the read, and the art. I love picking out the pictures, and could spend hours doing just that lol. It's great to hear such high praise for the build and i'm glad enjoyed it so much!
[blockquote][b][url=/profile/Paws]Paws[/url] said:[/b]
You've put a huge amount of work into this, Furrion, and your passion for this character really shines through! The backstory is excellent, and I like how you've tied that in with LAL's Attacked and Left for Dead option. Indeed, your Vigilants mean business and have all the zealotry they should have had in Skyrim, really allowing for this build to be read and immediately jumped into through Live Another Life. Your presentation is quite lovely, the banners and perkspreads being really easy on the eye along with the green text, and I like the depth with which you've explored Ivriel's spirituality. This feels like reading more than a build and that I'm looking at a much-loved and long-played character who has the effect of wanting me to play a Bosmer - something that doesn't happen often. Good work, dude, a true labour of love.
[/blockquote]
Cheer's Phil, and thanks Heaaps for all your help with the text wrapping, and helping decide on that one last peasky picture. Very glad you enjoyed the read, and the art. I love picking out the pictures, and could spend hours doing just that lol. It's great to hear such high praise for the build and i'm glad enjoyed it so much!
Dragonborn2121 said:Sorry Furrion, would've prefered commenting earlier, just been a bit sick today and all. To be honest I'm going to struggle to say much just because of how much I've talked to you about it on Discord or in the Workshop, so a lot of my praise has already been said. Doesn't mean I can't say it again I suppose, but the build really is awesome man. Everything from the backstory, to the presentation to the really interesting ways you've demonstrated the rather unique combat style of the build. I can't really think of anything you haven't nailed with this build, it's just really great.
Can't wait to see your next build mate, because all of yours so far have been absoltely killer :D
Hey man no worries as you said we chatted together about the a fair bit other places already :) And thanks mate i'm very pleased with how the build turned out myself! Ordinator is very handy at making outlandish combat styles work well :D Not sure if i'll ever do a vanilla build again, not sure if I could go back to it after Ordinator lol. I think I've found a comfortable building style now, and look forward to whatever may come next, when ever that is :)
[blockquote][b][url=/profile/Dragonborn2121]Dragonborn2121[/url] said:[/b]
Sorry Furrion, would've prefered commenting earlier, just been a bit sick today and all. To be honest I'm going to struggle to say much just because of how much I've talked to you about it on Discord or in the Workshop, so a lot of my praise has already been said. Doesn't mean I can't say it again I suppose, but the build really is awesome man. Everything from the backstory, to the presentation to the really interesting ways you've demonstrated the rather unique combat style of the build. I can't really think of anything you haven't nailed with this build, it's just really great.
Can't wait to see your next build mate, because all of yours so far have been absoltely killer :D
[/blockquote]
Hey man no worries as you said we chatted together about the a fair bit other places already :) And thanks mate i'm very pleased with how the build turned out myself! Ordinator is very handy at making outlandish combat styles work well :D Not sure if i'll ever do a vanilla build again, not sure if I could go back to it after Ordinator lol. I think I've found a comfortable building style now, and look forward to whatever may come next, when ever that is :)
Hey man no worries as you said we chatted together about the a fair bit other places already :) And thanks mate i'm very pleased with how the build turned out myself! Ordinator is very handy at making outlandish combat styles work well :D Not sure if i'll ever do a vanilla build again, not sure if I could go back to it after Ordinator lol. I think I've found a comfortable building style now, and look forward to whatever may come next, when ever that is :)
Hah, I totally understand it mate. Just getting into PC Skyrim at the moment and the sheer amount of detail I can add to the world really makes it difficult for me to imagine going back to Vanilla, or even Xbox/PS4 Skyrim for that matter. Ordinator really is the ultimate mod for building to be honest, it beats out the other perk mods just by taking an interesting approach to it's perks by making them so diverse (and active rather than purely passive perks). More then anything though, I think Ocato's Recital adds so much to any Ordinator build that uses it. I mean, even here you just get so much out of it because you aren't constantly switching around and casting multiple spells just to get your defence set up.
Might be worth considering a 'mini-build' of sorts. I'd be interested in seeing your style approach a more focused build that might only use a single skill (or a single path in a few different skills). Eh, whatever you end up creating next you know I'll be super excited for it :D
Hey man no worries as you said we chatted together about the a fair bit other places already :) And thanks mate i'm very pleased with how the build turned out myself! Ordinator is very handy at making outlandish combat styles work well :D Not sure if i'll ever do a vanilla build again, not sure if I could go back to it after Ordinator lol. I think I've found a comfortable building style now, and look forward to whatever may come next, when ever that is :)
Hah, I totally understand it mate. Just getting into PC Skyrim at the moment and the sheer amount of detail I can add to the world really makes it difficult for me to imagine going back to Vanilla, or even Xbox/PS4 Skyrim for that matter. Ordinator really is the ultimate mod for building to be honest, it beats out the other perk mods just by taking an interesting approach to it's perks by making them so diverse (and active rather than purely passive perks). More then anything though, I think Ocato's Recital adds so much to any Ordinator build that uses it. I mean, even here you just get so much out of it because you aren't constantly switching around and casting multiple spells just to get your defence set up.
Might be worth considering a 'mini-build' of sorts. I'd be interested in seeing your style approach a more focused build that might only use a single skill (or a single path in a few different skills). Eh, whatever you end up creating next you know I'll be super excited for it :D
Very cool build! I doubt I will ever install all the mods required for this (including the recommended mods, I would need 10 of them I don't already use), but the backstory is something I can work with, and there are still options in mods I use for having a more venomous combat style. And though you didn't use the Light Armor Skill here, Hedge Mage Armor is one of my all time favorites. Looks really great for the archer mage types who are always in the woods, hunting and foraging and otherwise being self-sufficient. Plus, I love items that grow with the character!
Very cool build! I doubt I will ever install all the mods required for this (including the recommended mods, I would need 10 of them I don't already use), but the backstory is something I can work with, and there are still options in mods I use for having a more venomous combat style. And though you didn't use the Light Armor Skill here, Hedge Mage Armor is one of my all time favorites. Looks really great for the archer mage types who are always in the woods, hunting and foraging and otherwise being self-sufficient. Plus, I love items that grow with the character!
Librari the Wizard said:Very cool build! I doubt I will ever install all the mods required for this (including the recommended mods, I would need 10 of them I don't already use), but the backstory is something I can work with, and there are still options in mods I use for having a more venomous combat style. And though you didn't use the Light Armor Skill here, Hedge Mage Armor is one of my all time favorites. Looks really great for the archer mage types who are always in the woods, hunting and foraging and otherwise being self-sufficient. Plus, I love items that grow with the character!
Thanks glad you like it! Probably the longest I've spent on a build before. Was happy to get his one finshed. The Hedge Mage robes have a really great Aesthetic, I rolled the Green cloured ones up until I defeated Miraak. This charcter is certainly always out in the wild foraging. If you have mods like Hunterborn or Scrimshaw they would both fit the build really well too. And forgotten Magic would be another great addition come to think.
[blockquote][b][url=/profile/LibraritheWizard]Librari the Wizard[/url] said:[/b]
Very cool build! I doubt I will ever install all the mods required for this (including the recommended mods, I would need 10 of them I don't already use), but the backstory is something I can work with, and there are still options in mods I use for having a more venomous combat style. And though you didn't use the Light Armor Skill here, Hedge Mage Armor is one of my all time favorites. Looks really great for the archer mage types who are always in the woods, hunting and foraging and otherwise being self-sufficient. Plus, I love items that grow with the character!
[/blockquote]
Thanks glad you like it! Probably the longest I've spent on a build before. Was happy to get his one finshed. The Hedge Mage robes have a really great Aesthetic, I rolled the Green cloured ones up until I defeated Miraak. This charcter is certainly always out in the wild foraging. If you have mods like Hunterborn or Scrimshaw they would both fit the build really well too. And forgotten Magic would be another great addition come to think.