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Event Build: The Vőlvar

Tags: #Race:Nord  #Character Build Barbarian  #Character Build Alchemist  #Rank:Event Exemplar  #Event:Crossworlds 
  • February 10, 2015

       

    The Vőlvar

     

       “Common people like to invent monsters and abominations. Then they seem less monstrous themselves. When they drink and beat someone senseless, cheat, starve their parents, kill a horse in the snow or spit on khajits and argonians, they like to think that the Darkness entering villages at night is more monstrous than they are. They feel better then. They find it easier to enjoy themselves” 

                                                          - Image from http://forums.nexusmods.com -

       It is difficult to roleplay something you never experienced. I`m not an orc capable to crush the skulls of his enemies, neither an alchemist who drink potions to increase his knowledge and immunity. More than that, I never been alone all my life, I always had my family, my friends and my work in a noisy environment. 

       This avatar is what each of us could have been, if fate and personal decisions were different. He is alone because his path made him a beast slayer, both natural and magical, transforming his soul and body in the service of the organization known as The Blades. Beyond their civic and undercover duty, some members never forgot their task is to hunt and kill dragons. But what a Blade can do when his duties involving the protection of the Empire and his citizens are interupted by so many beasts? They experimented with alchemy and magic to create  a volvar.

     

     Lore: Akaviri Dragonguard

       The Akaviri Dragonguard relentlessly hunted dragons in Akavir and invaded Tamriel (1E 2703) in pursue of the same goal, eventually accepting emperor Reman I as Dragonborn and lord. Dragons were hunted almost to extinction in the next centuries, grace to a network of bases across Tamriel, but they failed to stop the Morag Tong assassin who killed emperor Reman III in 1E 2920.

       Under the Septim Dynasty (2E 854 – 3E 433) the organization was known as The Blades, an intelligence agency devoted to the protection of the empire, with agents in every province, until the Oblivion Crisis. After that, working in the shadows against the Aldmeri Dominion, using old bases and fortresses to resuply, train and search through their extensive library, some survived to witness the wrath of Alduin and his conflict with the Last Dragonborn (4E 201), opening Sky Haven Temple under Grandmaster Delphine and chronicler Esbern.

                                                                          - Sky Haven Temple at miseria89.deviantart.com -

     

     Backstory

       Some of those hunting dragons evolved in a new branch, called volvar, who slay all manner of beasts and creatures that endanger the life of citizens in Tamriel, from bears to draugr and trolls. A volvar is someone who has undergone perilous training and magic rituals in preparation for becoming an itinerant beast slayer for hire. They receive training in swordsmanship and magic, while drinking certain potions with negative effects to increase immunity against elements, poison or diseases.

       Darraðr Ráða`s ancestors go back to the beginning of written history and many had been in the Dragonguard or The Blades at some time, making for a impressive informal family tree:

                                                                                 - Gallows Rock at tespostcards.wordpress.com -

       Unfortunately, a horde of fanatics and bandits called The Silver Hand, afraid of the experiments, butchered everyone in Gallows Rock. While running from the killers, he was ambushed by the Thalmor and brought to Helgen, then free to pursue his career path, mixing the training he received with the adventures of everyday Skyrim and revenge his family.

     

     Gameplay 

        The volvar is not a juggernaut or a pure elemental caster, masters of damage reduction and magical inferno. He chains his abilities, preparing for hit-and-run tactics, because no combat is trivial and no enemy should ever be targeted only with weapons, spells or shouts. There is a high limit to his endurance, thanks to alchemy, but he is not a dragon or a giant. Unrelenting Force, Breath Fire and Bend Will take care of more agressive humanoids and beasts, while Fire Rune and Flame Cloak became tactical options in combination with Great Critical Charge/Sweep and highly debilitating poisons.

       This prowess, like everything else in life, have a downside. A volvar life is all about balance. Immunity is the result to the constant self poisoning, a reality that make normal concotions, looted or bought, useless to him. Potion spam is no longer a option, because he is forced to avoid going over 100% toxicity and four potions in each battle, no matter how big the dungeon is or how many enemies have to fight until it is over.

                                                                        - Alchemy 101 by shaggyhandlz.deviantart.com -

     

    Alchemy

       Ingesting ingredients and special potions modified the internal structure of the young man, increasing his speed, immunity and endurance. He is now capable to mix and drink two potions with high toxicity, sustain level 3 shouts and use adept destruction spells, since  Gallows Rock was a spider school for volvar.  Note: The other 3 schools (bear, bat and gargoyle) are more interested in alchemy, swordsmanship and alteration/restoration, considering destruction to flashy for a beast slayer.

    Destruction

       Pure utility spells like Fire Rune and Flame Cloak to make up for the ``lone spider`` attitude. Nevertheless, they are essential in the fast dispatch of enemies.

     

    Two Handed    

       Steel and silver. Steel for normal enemies and silver for undead (Dragon Priests, draugr, ghosts, skeletons and zombie), werewolves, vampires and werebears. There are plenty of steel enchanted greatswords, but the silver one fall in your care and they don`t require anything more than fire damage.

     

      Block  

       Block, shout and run. Block, eat vegetable soup and bash. Avoid blocking while surrounded. Simple.

     

     

     Light Armor

       Darraðr Ráða have to be agile, fast and unremarkable to avoid the hate or mistrust of others. In order to do so he will stick to fur, hide, studded and leather, making enchanted gear a priority from the start, either from looting or merchants stock and level up the skill when nothing else is available.

     

     Abilities

     Core abilities

       Mobility, Tactical Retreat, Battle Cry and Advanced Atronach are the four cornerstones  of the  hit-and-run strategies and the first response to surprise attacks.   Use the core abilities together,  kill fast lone enemies, ragdoll or burn groups, bash and retreat, always in motion, throwing Battle Cry and power attacks from time to time for breathing room and heal. Use Advanced Atronach to jump in front of mages or dragons to absorb their magic, but nimble enough to avoid heavy blows.

     Advanced Abilities

       They require time to observe the enemy, plan ahead and deploy the tool at your disposal. Always, based on experience, throw core abilities when things doesn`t seem to work acording to the plan, run, return and finish the job. 

              

     Restless Legs

    Requirements: Dragon Oil, Fire Rune, Old Man, Vegetable Soup/Beef Stew, Berseker Rage, Unrelenting Force, power attacks [Mobility, Tactical Retreat, Battle Cry]

    Description: Keep nimble opponents out of balance. 

     

     

    Mammoth Charge 

    Requirements: Dragon Oil, Flame Cloak, Vegetable Soup/Beef Stew, Berseker Rage, Great Critical Charge, Unrelenting Force/Fire Breath, Paralysis poison, power attacks [Mobility, Tactical Retreat, Battle Cry]

    Description: Deal as much damage possible to strong enemies.  

     

            

    Dervish Dance 

    Requirements: Bend Will, Dragon Oil, Flame Cloak, Vegetable Soup/Beef Stew, Berseker Rage,  Sweep [Mobility, Tactical Retreat, Battle Cry]

    Description: Relentless attacks against mobs with temporary help from mesmerized enemies.

     

     

     

     Fire Elemental   

    Requirements: Dragon Oil, Fire Rune, Aetherium Philter, Flame Cloak, Beef Stew, Fire Breath, Berseker Rage, Bash [Mobility, Tactical Retreat, Battle Cry]

    Description: Transform into a mobile fire trap.

     

     

     

     

     Other Information

       Race: Nord.

       Stones : Mage Stone; Advanced Atronach – alchemical manipulation of the Atronach Stone with fortify restoration potions increase immunity to 100%, basically mutating the user.

       Stats Distribution: 0 Magicka | All Health | 0 Stamina. With Advanced Atronach and a Mage Hood magicka will be plenty, while potions and cooking can take care the stamina issue.

       Followers : Alone. Exceptions can be made for your best friend Sven (Bard College quests) and your lover Illia (Colege of Winterhold quests). Note : Other possible lovers are Brelyna Maryon, Serana or Aranea Ienith.

       Shouts 

      Unrelenting Force : Stagger is the best way to get mobility back and can replace Fire Breath with Dragonborn Force.

      Fire Breath : The Fire Whitin and Dragonborn Flame increase the power and usefulness for the Fire Elemental and Mammoth Charge abilities.

      Bend Will : Control over animals, peoples or dragons, handy in combat and tactical retreat.

      Dragon Aspect : The shout increase power attacks (25%), armor rating (125%), fire and frost resistance (25%), shouts power and allow a 20% decrease in shout recharge time. It is, to a extent, a new mutation.

     

     Equipment

       Armor

     Vampire Armor of Peerless Destruction (Destruction spells cost 25% less to cast and Magicka regenerate 50% faster)

     Leather Bracers of Major Alchemy  (Created potions are 17% more powerful)

     Leather Boots of Strength (Carrying capacity increased by 35 points)

     Necklace of Revival (Health regenerates 50% faster)

     Ring of Peerless Sure Grip (Two-handed attacks do 40% more damage)

     Adept Hood (Increase magicka 50 points) 

                                                           - Skyrim fantasy ruins by tarrzan-alexruizart.deviantart.com -

                                                                                                 

                                                                                                Weapons

    Steel Greatsword of Scorching (Burns the target for 15 points. Targets on fire take extra damage)

    Steel Greatsword of Torpor (Does 15 points of Stamina damage)

    Ǫndóttr (Silver sword of Fire Damage)

    Skyforge Steel Greatsword

                                                                            - Image from www.vg247.com -

     

     Alchemy recipes

       Potions

     Blessing 

    Effects : Cure Disease, Regenerate Health, Resist Poison

    Ingredients : Garlic, Mudcrab Chitin, Vampire Dust [No toxicity]

     

     Wounded Heart

    Effects : Fortify Health, Damage Stamina Regeneration, Restore Health

    Ingredients : Wheat, Blue Mountain Flower, Giant`s Toe [High toxicity, 50%] 

     

     

     Berseker Rage

    Effects: Fortify Two Handed, Frenzy, Regenerate Stamina

    Ingredients: Fly Amanita, Mora Tapinella, Troll Fat [High toxicity, 50%]

     

     

     Dragon Oil

    Effects : Fortify Destruction, Fortify Health

    Ingredients : Glowing Mushroom, Nightshade, Wheat [No toxicity]

     

     

     

     Aetherium Philter

    Effects : Regenerate Magicka, Resist Frost, Restore Magicka, Weakness to Fire

    Ingredients : Frost Salts, Garlic, Moon Sugar [Medium toxicity, 30%]

     

     

     

     

     Philter of Mutation

    Effects : Fortify Restoration, Regenerate Magicka, Weakness to Frost

    Ingredients : Abecean Longfin, Fire Salts, Salt Pile [Medium toxicity, 30%]

     

     

     Vial of the Albino

    Effects : Fortify Restoration, Regenerate Magicka

    Ingredients : Abecean Longfin, Garlic, Salt Pile [No toxicity]

     

     

     

     

     

    Poisons

     Spider Blood

    Effects : Lingering Damage Health , Paralysis

    Ingredients:  Canis Root, Imp Stool, Mora Tapinella

     

     

     

     

     

     Vampire Kiss

    Effects : Damage Health, Lingering Damage Health, Paralysis

    Ingredients : Human Flesh, Imp Stool, Slaughterfish Egg

     

     Bat Fang

    Effects : Ravage Health, Weakness to Magic

    Ingredients : Giant Lichen, Jazbay Grapes, Scaly Pholiota

     

     

     

     Bear Madness

    Effects : Ravage Magicka, Ravage Stamina, Ravage Health

    Ingredients : Jazbay Grapes, Scathecraw, Spawn Ash

     

     

     Old Man

    Effects : Damage Health, Ravage Stamina, Slow

    Ingredients : Deathbell,  River Betty, Thistle

     

     

     

     Roleplay

       A volvar like to be neutral good, a term coined by another gaming universe and apt for this build. He is, foremost, a beast hunter, someone who slide between factions and powerful people to do his job. With some exceptions, he survives alone because the job is difficult and when you have only two friends, they become to precious to be lost in a draugr infested dungeon or in a deadly fight with a frost giant.

      Whenever possible, he will strive to mediate between people and groups. In his mind, though, beasts are not limited to chaurus or wolfs, for example. Men and mer, beastfolk and daedra can loose control, maim, torture or mass kill others because they can. This two-legged beasts also fall in his area of responsability, because the volvar task is to protect the innocent people of the Empire.

       Nevertheless, a part of him is still human. He needs to take revenge on the Silver Hand, who killed his parents and friends in Gallows Rock, even  to the cost of becoming (temporary) a magical beast himself. This experience, though, taught him that ``beasts`` can be trusted if they prove some degree of self control and human emotions. In the end, his job is to keep the balance between the worlds of people, nature and magic, since he is part of all three.

       The final aspect is the fanatical love for books. He is a hoarder of literature in every domain, sources of inspiration for the most important tool to every itinerant beast slayer, a Field Manual. 

                                                                           - Talsgar the Elder, Field Manual of the Volvar -

     

     Quests

     

     Main Quest :  Destroy Alduin, save Paarthurnax and pray that the other dragons will follow the path of restraint.

     Civil War : Help the Imperial Legion and the Stormcloak to reach an agreement and divide their influence in Skyrim.

     Dawnguard Quests : Plenty of undead and magical beasts to slay. Sign me now!

     Dragonborn Quests : Miraak need to be stopped because he lost his way, caring only for power. Remember that a volvar work for his money – like in many daedric quests, princes like to paint themselves as your master, but in the end it`s a job and they are simple employers.

     Bards College : Draugr infested dungeons? Verses of old kings and bards? Magical flutes and drums?What story is better to tell around a inn fire?

     College of Winterhold : Thalmor hunger for power upset the balance in Tamriel and they need a lesson in good manners. Not to mention automatons and Dragon Priests!

     Companions : Revenge, a cure for lycanthropy and werevolves with human emotions. Help Vilkas and Farkas to restore their humanity, get as many jobs from Aela and marry the girl if you decide a mage is to much trouble to be around.

     Dark Brotherhood : A volvar is not an assassin. Still, Grelod the Kind (child abuser) and Vasha (rapist and murderer) have to be removed from the world. Since the Dark Brotherhood kill bad and good people, keeping a balance, I didn`t attack Astrid, staying away from their quests from that moment.

     Thieves Guild : While they reject, usually, murder to avoid attention, the guild like to bully and frame people. Nevertheless, some quest deal with beast slaying and restoring the balance, upset by the theft of the Skeleton Key. I decided they didn`t fit the bill, mostly because a volvar work for daedra instead of serving them.

     Daedric Quests : Despite the champion line, most of the princes ignore you after the quest has ended. Say yes to Azura, Clavicus Vile, Hermaeus Mora, Hircine, Malacath, Mehrunes Dagon, Meridia, Peryite, Sanguine, Sheogorath and Vermina for the somewhat neutral actions.

     Divine Quests : Fighting, restoring the magic of nature and helping religious orders is in the job description .

     Sidequests : Go for hunting beasts and helping innocents. Avoid catching lycanthropy or vampirism.

                                                                              - Image from www.dualshockers.com -  

     

     Closing Notes

       The source for this build is, obviously, Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher universe. He is one of the best anti hero I`ve ever played in a game that love hit-and-run tactics and tactical retreat.

       Skyrimize him was a fun, but frustrating experience. It goes beyond the simple difference in gameplay between the two games. I become to spoiled by the ``smash him good!`` approach to Skyrim combat and forgot the good time I had with The Witcher 1. Learning patience and proper timing again is difficult and time consuming. Even after I designed and playtested the abilities, many battles ended in disaster because I forgot the mobility and tactical retreat lessons learned some time ago.

       In the end, Skyrim proved to me that, with a little patience, you could do almost everything, even without mods. I hope people will have as much fun I had.

      

  • Member
    February 10, 2015

    This is Geralt, transferred from The Witcher to Skyrim with perfection. I love that family tree and how you've seamlessly incorporated it into the lore.

    Easy +1

  • Member
    February 10, 2015

    You have too many potions for my tastes but everything apart from that is very nice! 

  • February 10, 2015

    Thank you. One thing I didn`t like about the witcher is his blank past. Yes, I know the names of his father and mother, but what else? Nothing, so I made up my own witcher.

  • February 10, 2015

    Glad you like it! Potion spam is no longer a option, so I tried to offer some diversity.

  • February 10, 2015
    I'm liking this, I've always meant to play the Witcher but have never gotten around to it. Anyway it's a good read, an interesting build and well presented, I didn't see anything major that you should improve on so good work. +1 from me
  • February 10, 2015

    Thanks. The Witcher 1 is a great game and a must for your gaming collection. The second one is decent and I hope the third will be a blast.

  • Member
    February 10, 2015

    Very nice! Never played Witcher games, will need to fix that gap in my gaming history 

    A few notes on Alchemy section:

    Wounded Heart - Wheat, Blue Mountain Flower and Nightshade results in a Poison of Damage Magicka Regen, not a healing potion

    Aetherium Filter - quite an uncommon potion, both Frost Salts and Moon Sugar are hard to come by and are quite pricey. Is frost resistance worth it? You can have Fortify,Restore and Regenerate Magicka effects in one potion by combining Red Mountain Flower, Jazbay Grapes and 1 of these four ingredients - Dwarven Oil, Taproot, Fire Salts, Moon Sugar. First two also add Weakness to Magic, last two have no negative effects

    Philter of Mutation - replacing Fire Salts with Jazbay Grapes will change the frost weakness to Weakness to Magic but will also be much easier to craft

    Vampire Kiss - Human Flesh is very uncommon and not worth it IMO. You can change another potion and combine it with Spider Blood, for example: Old Man - replace Salt Pile with River Betty and you'll add Damage Health to the effects (the most powerful version due to x2.5 magnitude multiplier on River Betty)

    Of course, I don't know if the recipes you used were crafted specifically to mirror recipes in Witcher games. If that is the case and my suggested changes do not fit the concept feel free to ignore most of them. I would suggest to address Wounded Heart and Vampire Kiss issues anyway though

  • February 10, 2015

    The most powerful alchemical concotions in The Witcher were made from rare to unique ingredients and I tried to mimic this, especially the body parts or fluids. Since I`m not using my gaming rig right now, it is possible I made a confusion and put nightshade instead of giant toe for a fortify health - restore health - damage stamina regeneration potion. Can you verify for me - is giant toe the right ingredient?

    If Old man can be more potent, sure, I`m going to make the change. Thanks for your imput and vote!

  • Member
    February 10, 2015

    Yes, Giant Toe will work. IIRC it was the alchemy leveling potion prior to Hearthfire