Yes, guys, it's finally here! Based off the best character I've ever created, Charon Al-Elinhir. An insane prophet with a horrific goal and the tools to carry it out. If you would like to read a short story centered on one of Charon's old exploits, click here. That being said, this is more of a reflection of him. You don't need to roleplay as him to play the build. But that's enough about that, onto the actual build...
The Visionary
They call me a fanatic, I say an idealist.
They say I do cruel things, I say they are necessary.
You wallow behind your perceived sense of entitlement.
You sneer at the lowly bandits who steal to survive.
And you scoff at the simple thief, trying to provide for himself.
But I see through the shadow of presumption, I see the world for what it is.
It is dead and it must be cleansed...
Race: Redguard
Major Skills: One-Handed, Restoration, Alteration, and Smithing.
Minor Skills: Enchanting, Light Armor, Conjuration, and Block.
Weapons: The Staff of Jyrik Gauldrson, two Silver Swords (one with Absorb Magicka and one with Shock Damage), and the Bound Sword.
Equipment: (Prophet)~ Light Grey Dawnguard Armor, Temple Priest Hood, and Dawnguard Boots and Gauntlets. (HoonDing)~ Glass Armor, Boots, and Gauntlets; and Bonemold Helmet.
Shouts: Bend Will and Marked for Death.
The Prophet
Gameplay: The Prophet's most powerful weapon is His Voice. He has a mysterious power that allows him to dominate the minds of his foes, some believe it is a gift from HoonDing while others believe it is mere sorcery. This allows him to gather loyal supporters among even the most despicable bandit gang. Thanks to this ability, he can fulfill the classic role of a Party Leader (With No Party). In gameplay terms, this means no waiting on painfully slow followers and you don't have to worry about them dying while still having that risk of having your party killed entirely.
Although he prefers not to rely on them, he wields two ornately designed Silver Swords: one with Magicka Absorption (The Silencer) and one with Shock Damage (Storm of Ra'Gada). The latter allows him to do decent damage in an emergency, like if he can't gain control of a party. The former is used to gain magicka from his enemies to further heal his temporary allies or himself if necessary. Try to only heal the weaker allies, this may seem counterintuitive, but you don't wanted a fully-healed bandit chief charging with no healthy allies nearby.
The Staff of Jyrik Gauldrson is often overlooked. It does decent to both health and magicka, you can get it extremely early on, and it only takes one grand soul to fill (easy with the Black Star and the soul-trapping Bound Sword). It also synergizes with both the Silencer and the Storm of Ra'Gada, dealing massive amounts of magicka damage will leave mages drained entirely.
Restoration and Alteration can both be used to assist your temporary allies and keep you alive through the buffed defense and healing magic. Restoration can obviously be used heal your enemies as well as turn the undead (who aren't susceptible to Bend Will anyways). Alteration, though not as efficient as Restoration, can also be used to help your allies through paralyzing your non-converted enemies. Ash Rune was extremely helpful; I used it primarily to set-up for Bend Will, finding a good angle to 'convert' a large number of enemies.
The Dawnguard armor looks good with the Temple Priest Hood (though the colors are a bit off. And I am a tad disappointed that I couldn't find a more prophet-esque combination). Though you shouldn't be getting hit much, this does allow you to level Light Armor out of HoonDing form. The enchantments aren't that important and you could even run with no enchantments (I didn't enchant my armor until my late teens), but I would suggest Fortify ~Magic Skill~ or even Fortify One-Handed. Also I would suggest you NOT upgrade this armor through Smithing. You're a leader, you shouldn't be getting hit anyways.
Roleplay: The Prophet is an extremely kind individual, under normal circumstances. He is a speaker of the people and is generally kind to those he comes across. However he has a hate for the Empire due to their conquest of Hammerfell in the 3rd era and will slay Legion soldiers on sight, if he can get away with it. He also looks down upon the Stormcloaks and their methods, however he doesn't hate them.
Despite not being a hateful person, he is a dutiful person and he is completely convinced that his duty is to slay those who follow opposing pantheons. He is shown to be very apathetic when committing these horrible acts in the name of his pantheon, not showing signs of sadness or even anger.
The HoonDing
Lore: The HoonDing is strange figure that very little is known about. Some say he is a god, others say he is some kind of spirit that drive people towards a goal to better serve the Redguard people. He is the Spirit of Conquest who has guided legendary figures like Frandar Hunding, Diagna, and Cyrus the Restless. Having been shown to be one of the most powerful beings in all of Mundus, some say those who he blesses are unstoppable, as seen when Cyrus slays the dragon Nafaalilargus. However no one is HoonDing forever, his blessing is as lasting as the dunes in the Alik'r.
Gameplay: The HoonDing plays as an exceptionally powerful warrior capable of wielding the Shehai. He typically wears a strange mixture of crystalline and bone-like armor (Glass Armor set with a Bonemold Helm); however he is also able to summon a unique type of spirit armor, similar to the Shehai (See "The Shehai Unleashed" section).
With Alteration, fully smithed Glass Armor, Dragon Aspect, and Fortify Block enchantments, he has no issues surviving against any attacks, be they physical or magical. Dragon Aspect is a once-day power, but I roleplay-ed it wearing off was the character losing his connection to HoonDing a little so he didn't have HoonDing's full power (though he is still quite powerful).
Block is the only skill that is exclusive to one form, so it doesn't get as much experience as required. For this reason I suggest just getting getting to Quick Reflexes and reach the Block cap through Fortify Block enchantments (I used three but I'm not sure if this is the most efficient, but I still felt like a tank while blocking). Quick Reflexes really makes you feel like a god, watching your enemies slow down exponentially while you're still at full speed is super fun to do (especially with the shimmering Bound Sword and Dragon Aspect). Oh, speaking of Dragon Aspect....
It's great. Everything it does fits wonderfully with the build: the extra armor, the visual effect, the bonus to power attacks (the Bound Sword can do a lot of 'em), the fire/ice resistance, the Ancient Dragonborn, and the 20% shout cooldown. Which allows more Marked for Death to boost the power of your Shehai.
The Shehai Unleashed
The Shehai, okay, let's talk. The Shehai, or Spirit Sword, is an extremely powerful that was created or discovered by the Ansei, or Sword Saints of Yokuda. The sword is made of the wielder's own spirit, and so the warrior must be strong in spirit to properly wield the Shehai. But for those who can, it is capable of unimaginable feats; slaying armies by oneself and even cutting the uncuttable.
I've wanted to implement this thing into Skyrim, and so I was elated when Teccam posted his beautifully made Sword-Singer. But I still craved a way to use the Shehai without potions, and that's when I found Marked for Death (so to speak). Marked for Death lowers an enemy's armor rating every second, drastically improving the damage dealt by the Bound Sword. This nullifies the main issue with Bound Weapons, that they can't be upgraded. With Marked for Death, there is no need for smithed weapons.
Suddenly I felt like I was truly wielding the legendary Shehai, cutting through enemies like "a scythe through chaff." An extra perk of the Bound Sword (besides it being weightless) is its unlimited charge Soul Trap, I used the Black Star and Soul Trap Bound Sword to recharge my other swords and the Staff of Jyrik Gauldrson (which has roughly 20 shots and can be recharged with just one Grand Soul).
Perk Spread
I was pretty critical with the perks taken, I didn't want this build to be super bloated and I knew I couldn't perk every skill to its maximum due to the differing forms.
In Closing
Well that's about it. The presentation isn't too fancy but I hope it suffices and isn't wall o' text worthy. I might try to get an actual perk spread, but for now I figured the list-like format was better than a link to a calculator.
I'd also like to thank:
Henson for tolerating my private messages.
Vazgen for HoonDing's armor combo. (I absolutely adore it)
Teccam for letting me borrow the Shehai. (While you're at it, check out his legendary Sword-Singer!)
James for his Argument for 'Marked for Death'
And you, for reading!
Update!
There is a vastly better take on the HoonDing with my other build, the Way-Maker. I encourage you to check it out since it is much, much better than this one.
Yes, guys, it's finally here! Based off the best character I've ever created, Charon Al-Elinhir. An insane prophet with a horrific goal and the tools to carry it out. If you would like to read a short story centered on one of Charon's old exploits, click here. That being said, this is more of a reflection of him. You don't need to roleplay as him to play the build. But that's enough about that, onto the actual build...
The Visionary
They call me a fanatic, I say an idealist.
They say I do cruel things, I say they are necessary.
You wallow behind your perceived sense of entitlement.
You sneer at the lowly bandits who steal to survive.
And you scoff at the simple thief, trying to provide for himself.
But I see through the shadow of presumption, I see the world for what it is.
It is dead and it must be cleansed...
Race: Redguard
Major Skills: One-Handed, Restoration, Alteration, and Smithing.
Minor Skills: Enchanting, Light Armor, Conjuration, and Block.
Weapons: The Staff of Jyrik Gauldrson, two Silver Swords (one with Absorb Magicka and one with Shock Damage), and the Bound Sword.
Equipment: (Prophet)~ Light Grey Dawnguard Armor, Temple Priest Hood, and Dawnguard Boots and Gauntlets. (HoonDing)~ Glass Armor, Boots, and Gauntlets; and Bonemold Helmet.
Shouts: Bend Will and Marked for Death.
The Prophet
Gameplay: The Prophet's most powerful weapon is His Voice. He has a mysterious power that allows him to dominate the minds of his foes, some believe it is a gift from HoonDing while others believe it is mere sorcery. This allows him to gather loyal supporters among even the most despicable bandit gang. Thanks to this ability, he can fulfill the classic role of a Party Leader (With No Party). In gameplay terms, this means no waiting on painfully slow followers and you don't have to worry about them dying while still having that risk of having your party killed entirely.
Although he prefers not to rely on them, he wields two ornately designed Silver Swords: one with Magicka Absorption (The Silencer) and one with Shock Damage (Storm of Ra'Gada). The latter allows him to do decent damage in an emergency, like if he can't gain control of a party. The former is used to gain magicka from his enemies to further heal his temporary allies or himself if necessary. Try to only heal the weaker allies, this may seem counterintuitive, but you don't wanted a fully-healed bandit chief charging with no healthy allies nearby.
The Staff of Jyrik Gauldrson is often overlooked. It does decent to both health and magicka, you can get it extremely early on, and it only takes one grand soul to fill (easy with the Black Star and the soul-trapping Bound Sword). It also synergizes with both the Silencer and the Storm of Ra'Gada, dealing massive amounts of magicka damage will leave mages drained entirely.
Restoration and Alteration can both be used to assist your temporary allies and keep you alive through the buffed defense and healing magic. Restoration can obviously be used heal your enemies as well as turn the undead (who aren't susceptible to Bend Will anyways). Alteration, though not as efficient as Restoration, can also be used to help your allies through paralyzing your non-converted enemies. Ash Rune was extremely helpful; I used it primarily to set-up for Bend Will, finding a good angle to 'convert' a large number of enemies.
The Dawnguard armor looks good with the Temple Priest Hood (though the colors are a bit off. And I am a tad disappointed that I couldn't find a more prophet-esque combination). Though you shouldn't be getting hit much, this does allow you to level Light Armor out of HoonDing form. The enchantments aren't that important and you could even run with no enchantments (I didn't enchant my armor until my late teens), but I would suggest Fortify ~Magic Skill~ or even Fortify One-Handed. Also I would suggest you NOT upgrade this armor through Smithing. You're a leader, you shouldn't be getting hit anyways.
Roleplay: The Prophet is an extremely kind individual, under normal circumstances. He is a speaker of the people and is generally kind to those he comes across. However he has a hate for the Empire due to their conquest of Hammerfell in the 3rd era and will slay Legion soldiers on sight, if he can get away with it. He also looks down upon the Stormcloaks and their methods, however he doesn't hate them.
Despite not being a hateful person, he is a dutiful person and he is completely convinced that his duty is to slay those who follow opposing pantheons. He is shown to be very apathetic when committing these horrible acts in the name of his pantheon, not showing signs of sadness or even anger.
The HoonDing
Lore: The HoonDing is strange figure that very little is known about. Some say he is a god, others say he is some kind of spirit that drive people towards a goal to better serve the Redguard people. He is the Spirit of Conquest who has guided legendary figures like Frandar Hunding, Diagna, and Cyrus the Restless. Having been shown to be one of the most powerful beings in all of Mundus, some say those who he blesses are unstoppable, as seen when Cyrus slays the dragon Nafaalilargus. However no one is HoonDing forever, his blessing is as lasting as the dunes in the Alik'r.
Gameplay: The HoonDing plays as an exceptionally powerful warrior capable of wielding the Shehai. He typically wears a strange mixture of crystalline and bone-like armor (Glass Armor set with a Bonemold Helm); however he is also able to summon a unique type of spirit armor, similar to the Shehai (See "The Shehai Unleashed" section).
With Alteration, fully smithed Glass Armor, Dragon Aspect, and Fortify Block enchantments, he has no issues surviving against any attacks, be they physical or magical. Dragon Aspect is a once-day power, but I roleplay-ed it wearing off was the character losing his connection to HoonDing a little so he didn't have HoonDing's full power (though he is still quite powerful).
Block is the only skill that is exclusive to one form, so it doesn't get as much experience as required. For this reason I suggest just getting getting to Quick Reflexes and reach the Block cap through Fortify Block enchantments (I used three but I'm not sure if this is the most efficient, but I still felt like a tank while blocking). Quick Reflexes really makes you feel like a god, watching your enemies slow down exponentially while you're still at full speed is super fun to do (especially with the shimmering Bound Sword and Dragon Aspect). Oh, speaking of Dragon Aspect....
It's great. Everything it does fits wonderfully with the build: the extra armor, the visual effect, the bonus to power attacks (the Bound Sword can do a lot of 'em), the fire/ice resistance, the Ancient Dragonborn, and the 20% shout cooldown. Which allows more Marked for Death to boost the power of your Shehai.
The Shehai Unleashed
The Shehai, okay, let's talk. The Shehai, or Spirit Sword, is an extremely powerful that was created or discovered by the Ansei, or Sword Saints of Yokuda. The sword is made of the wielder's own spirit, and so the warrior must be strong in spirit to properly wield the Shehai. But for those who can, it is capable of unimaginable feats; slaying armies by oneself and even cutting the uncuttable.
I've wanted to implement this thing into Skyrim, and so I was elated when Teccam posted his beautifully made Sword-Singer. But I still craved a way to use the Shehai without potions, and that's when I found Marked for Death (so to speak). Marked for Death lowers an enemy's armor rating every second, drastically improving the damage dealt by the Bound Sword. This nullifies the main issue with Bound Weapons, that they can't be upgraded. With Marked for Death, there is no need for smithed weapons.
Suddenly I felt like I was truly wielding the legendary Shehai, cutting through enemies like "a scythe through chaff." An extra perk of the Bound Sword (besides it being weightless) is its unlimited charge Soul Trap, I used the Black Star and Soul Trap Bound Sword to recharge my other swords and the Staff of Jyrik Gauldrson (which has roughly 20 shots and can be recharged with just one Grand Soul).
Perk Spread
I was pretty critical with the perks taken, I didn't want this build to be super bloated and I knew I couldn't perk every skill to its maximum due to the differing forms.
In Closing
Well that's about it. The presentation isn't too fancy but I hope it suffices and isn't wall o' text worthy. I might try to get an actual perk spread, but for now I figured the list-like format was better than a link to a calculator.
I'd also like to thank:
Henson for tolerating my private messages.
Vazgen for HoonDing's armor combo. (I absolutely adore it)
Teccam for letting me borrow the Shehai. (While you're at it, check out his legendary Sword-Singer!)
James for his Argument for 'Marked for Death'
And you, for reading!
Update!
There is a vastly better take on the HoonDing with my other build, the Way-Maker. I encourage you to check it out since it is much, much better than this one.
Might I suggest Recommended Quests section? It can be interesting to describe his take on different quests that needs to be done like College of Winterhold, killing the Dunmer priest etc. I'd also suggest to put some lore information on HoonDing about that great pic and only address the gameplay part after it. I also think that it wouldn't hurt to make these awesome pics larger. +1
