Has The Elder Scrolls Online become a cash cow for ZOS?
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The_Lex✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭Imo, Orsinium was the best DLC in terms of size, content, story, and rewards. It’s been a steady decline ever since.
In terms of size, Antiquities gives a false impression because it makes you run around all over the place, giving you busy work to do. If you removed Antiquities, you’d see how hollow and small Greymoor really is.
Edited by The_Lex on 23 June 2020 11:5613 -
JTorus✭✭✭✭you are playing a business, not a game. So why do you complain? Tell me an MMO that is not a business. I don't know any MMO that cares about balance and ingame activities rather than content to sell or stuff to sugar the eyes of the consumer
I know one though - which is done by passionate devs, experienced in proper balancing doing it really careful and well and it is around since 2003 not going anywhere anytime soon - I let you guess what MMO that is - hint: it's pvp everywhere.
Spreadsheets in spaaaaaaaaaaace
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Hurbster✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭asuitandtyb14_ESO wrote: »tsaescishoeshiner wrote: »I don't think a Chapter, a DLC, and 4 dungeons every year constitutes "very little maintenance," not to mention all the cosmetics each month, which bring in a lot of business. There are also combat and balance teams. Unless you define what you mean by "very little maintenance," and can prove it, there's not much to say that ESO is a cash cow as you've defined it. Are there other examples you could give that could help?
The Crown Crates were finished and scheduled for release way before the fencing bug, so releasing a previously-scheduled, previously-developed product separately from fixing a current bug (that they're working on and say will require a big fix) doesn't really represent anything IMO.
You mean a tiny zone, followed by a tinier zone? A zone with enough content for a few weeks, at best. Some dungeons and a raid yes, but again, much less content in comparison to other competitor's expansions.
I don't get how the new zone is considered "tiny" by so many, do you even count Blackreach underneat it? Overland area is probably about the size of Murkmire, but then you have Blackreach with quite some area underneath it. Saying it's "tiny" is simply not right, compared to previous zones. Summerset for example may be bigger, but then we are queued for another additional area this year - and if I'm not all wrong, this was not the case with Summerset. We had all of that at once.
ZOS has a lot to answer for, and this new chapter isn't perfect - but seriously, why can't we be factual?
What we really should focus at, is how they even let through bizarre glitches like harrowstorms being bugged for hours, trash mobs that can't be targeted nor killed, fencing that doesn't work, Cyrodiil performance and so on - and how they seriously can stomach to openly declare they have "hotfixed" a glitch where you could gain 100's of thousands of XP from glitched dwarven spiders in Blackreach, INSTEAD of focusing on hotfixing fencing, the harrowstorms or any of the other errors that really do affect the players in a negative way.
But people go on about complaining about the storyline going nowhere, Crown Store being greedy and the size of the new area. I mean, yeah....
We had Summerset - THEN Murkmire as I recall. Just because it has a self-contained story doesn't mean it doesn't count for the total yearly content.
Name a live service game that isn't designed to have a constant revenue stream.
Edited by Hurbster on 23 June 2020 12:43So they raised the floor and lowered the ceiling. Except the ceiling has spikes in it now and the floor is also lava.1 -
itsfatbass✭✭✭✭✭
Sorry but the overall reviews and satisfaction with Greymoor has been NEGATIVE AS CAN BE!~PC/NA~ Magblade, Tankanist, Healplar, Stamcro, Oakensorc, Healden, Tanknight ~PLUR~3 -
Lysette✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭itsfatbass wrote: »
I don't think so - it is in the end a matter of taste - some really enjoy it, others not so much - but then again, why have they bought it then? They could have just waited for a year and then play it with ESO+ (eventually just for a month even).1 -
JTorus✭✭✭✭Name a live service game that isn't designed to have a constant revenue stream.
I don't think anyone is arguing that point. The complaint is the value of the product has noticeably declined for the costs incurred.
The entire Elder Scrolls Franchise has been coasting on Kirkbride's lore.
ESO is the Disney version of the Star Wars franchise.7 -
Lysette✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭I just don't know why it makes you wonder at all - this is the normal product life cycle - the 2nd phase growth is pretty much over and now it is in the maturity (cash cow) phase, which will at some point in time convert into the 4th phase "decline", most likely to happen around 2024 - educated rumors say that is the planned release of TES6. So ZOS has 4 years for the cash cow phase and of course now they have to make it comfortable and convenient to get the profit out of this phase.Edited by Lysette on 23 June 2020 13:051 -
ZOS_ConnorGmodGreetings all,
After review we have had to edit and remove several posts for Baiting and Non-Constructive Back and Forth, which is against the Community Rules. Please ensure that when you have a discussion, even if you disagree with another user, that you continue to keep your discussion civil, constructive, and within the rules.
You are welcome to review the Community Rules here.1 -
Feric51✭✭✭✭✭
✭TineaCruris wrote: »
Yes. ESO desperately needs a direct competitor that offers a nearly identical product/game (minus the crown crates and intense marketing).....and it sounds like that is only about a month away.
@TineaCruris what is this you speak of?Feric51
Xbox NADarkness Falls: The Crusade survivor (you young kids will never know the struggle of text-based games)0 -
Feric51✭✭✭✭✭
✭@Feric51 probably "New World" dev. by Amazon. But if one thinks that an Amazon game wont be a huge cash grab, then i dont know.. also there wont be a console release, where ESO is more or less the only decent MMO.
What I needed to know. I'm on Xbox so it will be a non-factor for me.Feric51
Xbox NADarkness Falls: The Crusade survivor (you young kids will never know the struggle of text-based games)1 -
DreamsUnderStars✭✭✭✭✭[snip]
You want a game to be a cash cow, especially if it's buy to play for f2p. Otherwise it goes poof.
[Edited to remove Baiting]Edited by ZOS_ConnorG on 23 June 2020 18:150 -
Zypheran✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭I think its all about balance. We want this game to be financially successful so that it will continue but you also want to see a balanced level of resources put back into the game in-line with that financial success.
I think everyone will have a different subjective view on whether or not that ZOS achieve this balance but ultimately it comes down to a popular vote where the ballot=wallet! And right now it would appear that ZOS are doing well in the polls!All my housing builds are available on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf3oJ_cxuu01HmWZJZ6KK6g?view_as=subscriber
I am happy to share the EHT save files for most of my builds.3 -
JTorus✭✭✭✭DreamsUnderStars wrote: »[snip]
You want a game to be a cash cow, especially if it's buy to play for f2p. Otherwise it goes poof.
Honest criticism is not synonymous with moaning complaining harping and whining. I don't think anyone begrudges ZOS for wanting to earn a profit...
Of course the key word in that last statement is 'earn'.
Edited by ZOS_ConnorG on 23 June 2020 18:1610 -
asuitandtyb14_ESO✭✭✭✭✭Let's all strive to keep it civil and on topic so we don't give the censor jockeys an excuse to lock another thread.2 -
BazOfWar✭✭✭✭Ofc it's a cash cow, they are just trying to milk it for what they can but it's the same fate for every mmo when it's been out for X amount of years.2
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WhyMustItBe✭✭✭✭✭
✭DreamsUnderStars wrote: »You want a game to be a cash cow, especially if it's buy to play for f2p. Otherwise it goes poof.
So much wrong with this statement.
1) You assume the only way to succeed is to become greedy, completely negating the much greater success of games like WoW for an obvious example that shot to global gaming super power status as a PASSION project (until they started getting thirsty after 15+ years and selling $25 mounts on the store once and a while).
2) You assume that if a company (foolishly) decided to "take their ball and go home" that somehow gaming as a genre would magically implode and no one else would make games to fill the void of that fall from glory.
Obviously big companies have NO bargaining power in this. You cannot ignore the Law of Supply and Demand. If you chase your customers away with greedy pay to win tactics, gaming will not collapse. Your customers will simply stop paying you and give their money to someone else more serious about making a quality product than just chasing quarterly status and validation spreadsheets.
That is why I do NOT believe ZOS has quite gone full ham greed. Yet. They do walk the tightrope though.
Edited by WhyMustItBe on 23 June 2020 20:301 -
Kittytravel✭✭✭✭✭Genuine question because I absolutely do not understand and I've wanted to ask for awhile for anyone in this thread; what exactly makes New World a direct competitor with ESO over things like FFXIV, Black Desert, and WoW?
On topic: Yeah a game is a cash grab; that's always the goal. I think the only issue I have with ZOS and their microtransactions and why I don't partake in more than just the sub is because many of their "micro" transactions are "macro" transactions. I mean a dollar per crate is the normative for gambleboxes in most entertainment games but ZOS ramped them up to $4 for a digital piece of nothingness; only coming down to the $3.33 a piece if you buy them in bundles of 15. For digital content that has absolutely no limit on it their prices are excrutiatingly painful and I really wish they'd take advantage of their unlimited supply to realize they can use that to just mass sell $1-5 junk digital items instead of making them cost $15+
The amount of people I know who'd buy some of those crappy made mounts in their crown store for $3 is hilarious; but not many people want to pay $18 for a bland lion/wolf/bear/camel. And forget the $30 for the horse with a horn taped to its head.
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Lysette✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭Kittytravel wrote: »Genuine question because I absolutely do not understand and I've wanted to ask for awhile for anyone in this thread; what exactly makes New World a direct competitor with ESO over things like FFXIV, Black Desert, and WoW?
On topic: Yeah a game is a cash grab; that's always the goal. I think the only issue I have with ZOS and their microtransactions and why I don't partake in more than just the sub is because many of their "micro" transactions are "macro" transactions. I mean a dollar per crate is the normative for gambleboxes in most entertainment games but ZOS ramped them up to $4 for a digital piece of nothingness; only coming down to the $3.33 a piece if you buy them in bundles of 15. For digital content that has absolutely no limit on it their prices are excrutiatingly painful and I really wish they'd take advantage of their unlimited supply to realize they can use that to just mass sell $1-5 junk digital items instead of making them cost $15+
The amount of people I know who'd buy some of those crappy made mounts in their crown store for $3 is hilarious; but not many people want to pay $18 for a bland lion/wolf/bear/camel. And forget the $30 for the horse with a horn taped to its head.
You have to see that in the context of ESO+ as well - in the past there was not that much where you could spend your ESO+ crowns on - at a certain point you owned all you wanted and those crowns piled up on some accounts. As an ESO+ member I don't convert prices to dollars, because I get those crowns anyway with the subscription and will have to spend them on something - higher crown prices might not make me want to purchase it, but on the other side, if I like it, I will take it - just got a few costumes more from the shop - but this doesn't raise my expenses into the game - it is still just subscription money,0 -
WhyMustItBe✭✭✭✭✭
✭I felt the need to clarify a bit after my previous comments.
When the Crown Store first launched there was a lot more negative feeback about "gamble crates" and countries like Belgium threatening to ban games that use them, because at that time there was no way to get the stuff on the store OTHER than gambling.
There were no Crown Gems at the launch of the Crown Store, and I want to say that went on for a couple years.
Imagine, spending $40 or more on a pack of 15 crates (the 5k Crown Pack) and opening them all and all you got was whatever random stuff you happened to get. No trading in duplicates or stuff you don't want for Gems. There were no gems. No buying the stuff you wanted that you were not lucky enough to get with those Gems... You get the idea.
It is not difficult to see how this was construed as a form of real money gambling.. Because it literally is. You want a specific product or service, which is added along with a ton of other stuff you do NOT want to a lottery tank, and you spend real money to gamble at an apple bob in that tank, and get what RNG gives you. Literally real money gambling, hello?!?
So, they went back and largely redesigned the system to include the Crown Gem and item recycling mechanics, which largely solved the problem. You could now exchange duplicates and buy stuff you wanted but didn't get from RNG. Win! There was still the problem of not having access to the odds which is required by law in many territories, and Radiant Apex Mounts are still RNG exclusive (still real money gambling only) which is dubious, but it is a LOT better now than at launch.
When I try and look at the history of the game over the past 6 years objectively I have to give ZOS credit for their willingness to make a legitimate effort towards a reasonable and equitable compromise, on this sticky issue and on other things.
They HAVE gone back and done a lot of reworking with sets procs and visual effects and balancing over the years, and not all of it has been totally phoned it either. There is still a perception that the majority of the team at Zenimax is in fact TRYING to make a great product that people will enjoy, to the best of their ability.
So the whole method of funding issue does get a bit of a pass, but only to a point. Hence, "the tightrope."
But I do honestly feel all things considered that they HAVE succeeded in making a pretty great product. Otherwise I wouldn't still be playing after 6 years.
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Lysette✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭I'm with you when it comes to those gambling crates - nothing I would spend money or crowns on. I take a free one, but even if that gives me gems, this will not make me any likely to acquire crates to get more gems.Edited by Lysette on 23 June 2020 21:360 -
Keledus✭✭✭This thread pops up every month with the same story.
Yes, it's a cashcow they have to keep growing and profiting from the game otherwise it's deadweight and better off being replaced.
People keep spending hundreds/thousands of dollars on crown crates & crown stores, its profitable means majority of their time is invested in creating crown store items.
Crown crates are insane, on average to get a apex mount you're spending about 250 dollars, (100 crates).
When other games sell mounts for $25-30 each and you can choose which mount you want.
We haven't seen anything new for being ESO+ in a long time.
Yearly chapters are lacking in content, most likely because sales aren't that high anymore, sub count is most likely down aswell causing them to spend more on crown store to make up for the loss in chapter/sub money.
Afterall, Zenimax is a company at first owned by corporate greedy people, (Not saying just zenimax is that, every game company is that these days) The developers themselves are great and aren't at fault they're simply doing their jobs.
Unless we the players stop buying into this crap, nothing will ever change.
I dont purchase crowns or crates, I only have a subscription to ESO+ & I buy the yearly chapter.
On average a person that subs the entire year and purchased the chapter drops about 200 dollars on the game a year give or take.
The same amount of money I'd be dropping on a world of warcraft a year. Every MMO is like this.
Too bad the days of just subbing being enough dont exist anymore.
Zenimax would be doing the entire playerbase a huge favor if they'd just get rid of crown crates and simply sell the items from the crates for crowns. Get rid of the gambling aspect, satisfy the players and focus more on actual content. Rewards we can get in game by playing the damn game. Man even I would be more likely to spend $20 on a mount of my choice without gambling for it.
The wolf from antiquites is a great example, we need more of this. MUCH more.
Too bad they're feeding a gambling addiction down peoples throats. Many people play games to get away from real life troubles and are weak to falling for this type of scam, and Zenimax is just allowing those people to suffer, it's horrible. Hopefully the governments start to realise that this isn't fair just like with EA and their fifa cards n all that garbage.Edited by Keledus on 23 June 2020 22:22PC - EU3 -
volkeswagon✭✭✭✭✭
✭They do make much monies as any MMO but it isn't low maintenance. They have people who day in and day out try to fix bugs, deal with support tickets, bot control, dlc and expansion development, server maintenance and performance troubleshooting and improvement planning. Your game investment covers that cost with the rest being profit to return to investors and future project development which don't receive funds until release.1 -
ZaroktheImmortal✭✭✭✭✭
✭Incase you need a quick run down in business basics, a cash cow is a product that offers a steady stream of income with very little maintenance. So for a long amount of time the game is gathering a larger income than it is outputting which is great for companies that are looking to progress into other streams of income or products that are coming to an end of their life cycle.
I've come to this conclusion as having been back playing for the last 3 months (played 2015-2018) I've noticed that the developer to player interaction almost seems to be non existent. There are hundreds if not thousands of threads asking for changes or even just asking for a simple answer that seem to go ignored time and time again (ironic that im writing a thread about it but what else can be done to get a point across?)
There also seems to be AN AMAZING amount of product placement and promotion going towards crown crates, these serve no purpose whatsoever in terms of game progression but are a quick cash grab for any developer. What astounded me the most is that there has been a major problem with fencing for PS4/XBOX users that has been going on for weeks that has been left broken yet ZOS will happily push out an update on crown crates.
I myself enjoy this game immensely but after only being back for a few months I feel that the playerbase is being somewhat ignored in terms of major issues (PVP) and things such as crown crates are just being churned out over and over again.
Just my 2 crowns.
I mean....yeah they're going to try to sell us stuff like crown crates. But how many other MMOS try to sell you stuff as well as forcing subscription? This is one of the ones that you don't have to subscribe and keep paying money to keep playing and crates is mostly cosmetics, new pets, new mounts that don't really do anything but look different. And I'm pretty sure keeping the game going isn't going to be free on their part having the servers and paying people to make sure said things keep going and what not. I mean I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure it does cost them money to keep things like that going. So be glad they do have some ways to make money or the people higher up might have just pulled the plug entirely. But at least in this case unlike some MMOs we don't have to keep putting that money in to keep playing. We don't even have to subscribe.0 -
ScroolooseSoul ShrivenKittytravel wrote: »Genuine question because I absolutely do not understand and I've wanted to ask for awhile for anyone in this thread; what exactly makes New World a direct competitor with ESO over things like FFXIV, Black Desert, and WoW?
The PvP in New World was amazing, reminded me so much of classic WoW, until they changed the whole system and ruined it in one patch.
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Elsonso✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭Kittytravel wrote: »Genuine question because I absolutely do not understand and I've wanted to ask for awhile for anyone in this thread; what exactly makes New World a direct competitor with ESO over things like FFXIV, Black Desert, and WoW?
Actually, not a lot. Like many, I thought it might be. As things unfolded, I began to lose interest, and now I have no interest at all.XBox EU/NA:@ElsonsoJannus
PC NA/EU: @Elsonso
PSN NA/EU: @ElsonsoJannus
Total in-game hours: 11321
X/Twitter: ElsonsoJannus0 -
igniz93✭✭✭Agreed. It's obvious they don't care much about the game, they don't even care to fix major issues...3
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Kalik_Gold✭✭✭✭✭
✭I think the answer is an obvious yes. They add little content to the game, and add a lot of content to the crown store.
Edit: content isnt just quests and new zones. Its skins, costumes, mounts, pets, houses, etc.
That's why I pay my sub. And refuse to buy crowns and crown crates. If people keep spending thousands of dollars on crown crates nothing will ever change.
It's really sad to me that in the entire time I have played this game, every time I have seen a mount I wanted, I looked up how to get it and realised it is only available for cash, and a limited time at that.
Cancelled my sub. Only buy Chapters DLCs with cash and crowns and dungeons with gold here and there and I’m fine. I do buy a few crowns here and there if something is leaving the shop that I didn’t have enough golf for but that is rare.
Not gonna keep a sub - find the cheapest way.
Crowns for Gold is a means to an end, of feeling like they don’t care about us.
.Edited by Kalik_Gold on 24 June 2020 01:53Main: (PvP & PvE)PS5/NA - Ras Kalik a Redguard Templar - Daggerfall Covenant • 1550+ Champion
Ras Kalik a Redguard Templar, the Vestige
PvP:
Aurik Siet'ka a Redguard Necromancer
Cacique the Sage of Ius a Redguard Warden
Jux Blackheart a Redguard Nightblade
Goliath of Hammerfell a Redguard Dragonknight
Kaotik Von Dae'mon a Redguard* Sorcerer
PvP: (Specialty)
Tyrus Septim an Imperial Lycan Sorcerer
Tsar af-Bomba a Redguard Vampiric Nightblade (Bomber)
Movárth Piquine a Nord Vampiric Necromancer
Uri Ice-Heart the Twin a Nord Vampiric Warden
Voa a Priest of Sep a Redguard* Necromancer
PvE:
Cinan Tharn an Imperial Dragonknight (Tank)
Bates Vesuius of Dawnstar an Imperial Dragonknight (Damage)
Herzog Zwei the Genesis an Akavari* Templar (Healer)
Tav'i at-Shinji a Redguard** Warden (One-Bar)
Lucky Hunch the Gambler - a Redguard Nightblade (Thief)
Leveling...
Two-Big-Horns an Argonian Arcanist
Styx of Akatosh a Goblin* Arcanist
Zenovia at-Tura a Redguard** Sorcerer
Yesi af-Kalik a Redguard Templar
======
Passives of another race used. (RP)
*Breton
**Imperial
__________________________Backstories:_________________________
Ras Kalik the Vestige, a renown Redguard warrior; He has been blessed to save Tamriel from Molag Bal’s destructive Planemeld while reuniting the Five Companions. His further accomplishments after defeating Molag Bal, has been to stop the destruction of Morrowind, the Clockwork City, return order to the isle of Summerset and create a new king in Wrothgar and a queen in Elsywer. These events have made him a living legend and continue to lead him into new adventures throughout Tamriel, as well as into the hearts of many ladies including the Elf Queen, Aryenn. Over many years of adventurous travels, Ras Kalik had become a loner, until he re-visited his homeland of Alik'r.
Alik'r and it's cities were overrun by the undead Ra-Netu and therefore he made an allegiance with Alik'r's own Ash'abah tribe. These Ash'abah with his help, cleansed the city of Sentinel in Alik'r desert and it's surrounding areas of the undead brought to life by the Withered Hand. After rescuing Sentinel from the undead zombies, King Fahara’jad’s personal bodyguard the Goliath of Hammerfell, who was given this name by Imperials in the region; was asked to assist the tribe after learning of the defeat of the Withered Hand to the Ash'abah. Kalik promised Goliath he would task him with fighting living enemies on the battlefield if he so desired. Goliath being a Yokudan warrior wields a massive sword in respect to the Ansei, a gift given by the Imperial, Cinan Tharn. Not many soldiers are able to wield double two handed weapons, but Goliath loves to get up and personal in a fight, so he also carries a giant maul, both weapons laced with magical flames.
Jux Blackheart is a master thief that masquerades as a Bard at the Sisters of the Sands inn, with his younger sidekick Lucky Hunch for pilfering and gambling during this time. Jux was known to infiltrate any towns bank vault he came across and even delved into Ayelid ruins without detection. Kalik can vividly recall the night he met the famed thief. Jux found himself rummaging thru a slightly inebriated Kalik’s pocket for too long, on a full-mooned night and because of his greed and the glimmer of his golden armor in the moonlight. He lost his left pinky fingertip as a lesson! But in return, he gained a new friend, as it was his first time since a child being caught red-handed...
Upon arrival back in the Alik'r after many moons of adventuring, Ras Kalik ventures to Bergama. Visiting The Winking Jackal, he runs into Jux Blackheart, who introduces him to the coin game Crowns vs Forebearers (Heads vs Tails) and Golden Dwemer (RBG).... Jux constantly takes gold from the unfortunate thru theft or gambling, his biggest gambling victim is actually his partner in crime known as Lucky Hunch the Gambler. Lucky doesn't mind losing any gold coins to Jux... as Jux saved him from Altmer slavers in Summerset, by stealing a key and sending him on a boat to the mainland years prior. Lucky spent years in slavery with Khajiits in Summerset and picked up the art of subterfuge, using illusion magic disguises and stealing there.
Kaotik Von’Daemon an outcast, and a half-caste between a Breton mother and a Redguard father. Kaotik become a pariah due to his conjuration of Daedra pets. He was taught healing magic during his childhood years by his Breton mother. His father due to Redguard customs exiled him from the desert, sending him by wagon caravan to be a soldier in the war in Cyrodiil. He happened to meet Kalik while traveling from Alik'r, during this long caravan ride the caravan he was in was ambushed in Bangkorai by a group of bandits. Kalik by chance was also traveling thru this area on his Auridon Warhorse (which was bestowed to him by his friend, Darien Gautier). During this ambush, Kalik was able to rescue five hostages from the bandits. Kaotik was the first rescued, and Ras Kalik also recruited him to be in the Ash'abah tribe. These core Ash'abah tribesmen may never be seen together in travel as they partake in their own adventures but they always know what each other is doing; as they frequent a hideout in northern Bankorai. Their hideout an old Orc castle ruin, is kept watch by Nuzhimeh and she passes messages written between them, and frequently they also enjoy her company and her bed.
The other men rescued were a Dunmer banker, an Imperial mercenary and two other soldiers, an Imperial and a Breton Knight, stating proudly he was an Akavir descendent. One of the Imperials, Cinan, claimed to be related to Abnur Tharn the Battlemage of the Imperial Elder Council (One of Ras Kalik's mentors in the Five Companions). Cinan Tharn was really Abnur's drunkard treasure hunting illegitimate son. He was caught smuggling artifacts out of the Ayleid ruins in Cyrodiil and the elder of the two Imperials was Tyrus Septim a retired Imperial navy battle-mage (now a Lycan mercenary living in the city of Rimmen) and guard to the Tharn family. As much as Abnur Tharn hated his half-sister Euraxia, he dislikes his bas†ard son Cinan more. Tyrus now a ruffian and privateer had been paid by Abnur Tharn to watch over Cinan as much as possible. Cinan Tharn a drunkard, loves to drink at least a quarter barrel of Nord mead before he raids various delves and dungeons for relics to sell on the black market. Cinan also plans to one day, run an illegal gambling ring... which he thinks will net him more gold for his wares.
The Dunmer captive shackled to the Imperials looked familiar to Kalik from his time in Morrowind.... and he recognized him as Tythis Andromo a House Telvanni slave-owner and banker from Vvardenfell. During a rough interrogation to Tythis, Ras Kalik learnt why the bandits accosted him. The racist Dunmer was providing slaves as soldiers for the Three Banner War. The bandits were trying to negotiate a lucrative ransom for Andromo and the Imperials.... Kalik did not need any of this gold and he could never set Tythis free as he did with the two Imperial soldiers. His past involvement with slavery and war crimes, made Kalik's blood boil. He chose not to execute Tythis, as he figured the worse punishment for this former rich and opulent slave owner, is to now be an imprisoned servant for Ras Kalik and the tribe.
Herzog Zwei the Genesis a reknown Imperial/Akavirri battle-mage. His roots going back to Akavir through his mother’s bloodline. (His mother is descended from the Akaviri, through Versidue-Shae, and his Imperial father met her in Hakoshae, while traveling) Herzog earned the nickname "the Genesis" from his father as a child, as he was his mother's first born child, and last, as she tragically died in child-birth.
Herzog was seeking to purchase an artifact from Cinan Tharn, before their capture and was meeting Tyrus while in Rimmen, who introduced him to Cinan. This artifact being the Ayelid artifact; the sword Sinweaver. After their rescue and the exchange of gold to Cinan for the sword he decided to slip away before Ras Kalik could question who he was, and why the Akavir descendant really wanted that sword. Herzog was headed to Nagastani — An Ayleid ruin in eastern Cyrodiil. He had read in scrolls that the Sword would give him magical powers to meet his mothers spirit, if he performed an Ayleid ritual at an old shrine hidden there. Equipped with the artifact sword, he was off to start his own adventure but Ras Kalik, did indeed notice the sword however and instead sent a letter to Jux Blackheart (whom also was interested in Ayleid treasures), to attempt to find Herzog and acquire the sword. (*Azani Blackheart in Elder Scroll's Oblivion is Jux's descendant some 747 years later)
And so the Redguard, Imperial and Akaviri men parted ways ... While Ras Kalik went off to Elsweyr to encounter the latest threat to Tamriel, with Abnur Tharn and Sai Sahan - - DRAGONS!! Little did Ras Kalik know a few people were awaiting him in Senchal besides Sai. A necromancer survived his attack on the Withered Hand, while in Alik'r. The necromancer known as Auriek Siet'ka is also following him to the land of the Khajiits and Cacique the Sage of Ius a Shaman mystic who has become attuned spiritually with Tu'whacca (a Redguard God) and Ius (the Animal God), after being burned severely by the escaped dragons in Elsywer, is awaiting his arrival also. Aurik is a soldier of the Daggerfall Covenant that was introduced to necromancy while in the military, even though this magicka art is not spoken of openly by most of the Military leaders. He came to Alik'r and worked with the Withered Hand before Ras Kalik intervened on their plans. After the defeat of the Withered Hand, he aligned with the Worm Cult, and is constantly adapting and perfecting his necromantic arts.
After his journey to Rimmen, Kalik heads south to Senchal, in the southern regions of Elyswer. This new adventure will also put him on a path to meet a strange Redguard man. The stranger which was infected with an untreated Peyrite disease and also was the exiled from the Order of the New Moon cult, due to his sickness. He originally joined the cult to worship Laatvulon, the green dragon, mistakenly thinking it was the Daedric prince Peyrite. This confused and suffering cultist is known as Tsar al-Bomba and he is on a path to spread the disease. He was originally infected in Orccrest while recruiting members there. Can Ras Kalik and the shaman Cacique cure this poor soul, only time will tell. Little does Tsar al-Bomba know, that his infection is tied to Vampirism, and eventually the desire for blood will take over his mind. Senchal also offers Kalik his latest love interest... Aeliah. Whom he fondly led thru battles with the Dragonguard.
After the trek thru the heat, tropical and desert climate of Northern and Southern Elyswer, Ras Kalik heads north to the cold mountain range of Skyrim. His companion friend Lyris beckons for him with a letter sent by crow...
Movárth Piquine - a former vampire hunter (now infected), within the Fighter's Guild (and a secretive necromancer) was in Skyrim working with the Morthaal Guard. On a patrol mission he was caught in Frewien's ice curse outside of Morthaal with the frozen undead. Movárth's vampiric infection kept him from becoming an undead minion to the curse. He was able to use necromantic ice-magic to encase himself safely until he was freed with Freiwen, when the Vestige Ras Kalik broke the curse.
Uri Ice-Heart - brother of Urfon Ice-Heart. The twin sons of Atli and Oljourn Ice-Heart. The Ice-Heart family are originally from Markarth but now reside on the Jerall Mountain range near Cyrodiil, with their younger sister Araki. The twins had joined the Winterborn Reachmen while living in Markarth. Urfon pushed west to Orsinium with the Winterborn Clan, leaving his family behind. Uri stayed behind with his parents and sister to live in the family cabin for safety, avoiding the Vampire plague infiltrating the Reach. After news reaches him and he hears of Urfon's death... Uri leaves and heads home and is seeking vengeance. Meanwhile, his sister has also moved on to Windhelm to join the Fighter's guild. He will visit his sister, once before going to seek vengeance and she will craft him armor mixed with ice, called Stalhrim armor. Uri fearing death, after his brother's passing, falls victim to the convincing talk of Movárth at a Nordic tavern, and will also becomes a vampire.
{time moves forward through the hour-glass}
Returning player - 2017-2022, back in 25'1
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