Character history?

Morgha_Kul

So...
I've posted before about how I've been playing my Templar character. I created him as a kind of thought experiment. His back story is that he's ME, taken from Earth by Molag Bal as part of a plan to gain access to our reality. However, Molag Bal was thwarted by Azura, who diverted his spell, causing me to appear in Vvardenfell.

At that point, I started playing the character keeping in mind the question, what would I REALLY do if I found myself in this situation... and I kept a journal. I made entries over the course of several years, the thing was almost 300 pages. I had a copy on my laptop, and a backup on a USB stick.

I bought a new laptop, so I transferred the updated file to the USB, and traded my old laptop for the new one. When I plugged in the USB stick, I selected the file to transfer it to the new laptop... and the USB died. Completely inaccessible. YEARS of work... gone (and that's not including any of the OTHER stuff on that USB, including thesis work and almost 100 journals I'd downloaded for the thesis... Luckily, that was largely backed up on my desktop PC).

So, I've been trying to recreate the journal. I've been kind of avoiding the character since then because I want to pick up where I left off... but I can't remember what he's done, and in what order.

My question is for the developers or whoever is relevant:

Is there some way to know what my character has DONE? Like, a list of missions he's completed, and when?
If not, is there some way to reset the character's quest progress WITHOUT deleting all his unlocked stuff (like motifs, collectibles, skills and so on)?

Orion_89

Not sure what developers can do about the files that are created by yourself... But I wonder if we had a possibility to reset quests without loosing the achivements, just to complete it again (when companions will be revealed or to refresh the lore facts)

HowellQagan

You can't check dates but there are addons that can list completed quests, look on esoui in the relevant sections.

HowellQagan

Orion_89 wrote: »

But I wonder if we had a possibility to reset quests without loosing the achivements, just to complete it again (when companions will be revealed or to refresh the lore facts)

That would be pretty amazing, though they would probably have to create a limitation where you can only choose the same "important" (red marked) decisions you previously made.

kringled_1

For main storyline quests, you can track them by the achivements (including date), which are either the quests section of the achievements journal, or the quests section for DLC zones/chapters. Some quests you can estimate when you did by other achievements (i.e. a dungeon quest and getting the vanquisher achievement are very common in your first run of a dungeon, but not guaranteed). There are many small side quests that you will not be able to track though.

Stanx

It's long but I'd check maps to see which of those zone quest icons I've turned white.

Would be interesting to see a log of all I've done, particularly as I'm on console so no add-ons for me

Ackwalan

An in-game note pad that is saved with the character variables file might work. I wonder if some add-on wizard could make something like that. Have option to change the look of the note pad to appear as a book or scroll, along choice of script style.

magnusthorek

There's is a notepad/journal-like addon (here). I tested it for a while and it works great but then I forgot the purpose I installed it — late day ideas go sleep in the lazy neuron XD — and ended up uninstalling.

But regarding my character's story, at the least my main, she doesn't have really a story. The only thing that really worth mentioning about her is that I named her after Brelyna Maryon from Skyrim, the most beautiful (if not the only one) Dark elf in (modded) Skyrim.

Made her a Telvanni just for a pinch of egocentrism and rudeness, but only depending on whom I'm talking to. And because the other Houses don't fit my playstyle, especially the Hlaalu. I hate House Hlaalu.

Sheezabeast

Sounds like you might have to have him go full Groundhog Day and relive everything.

Morgha_Kul

Sheezabeast wrote: »

Sounds like you might have to have him go full Groundhog Day and relive everything.

Well, I'd be willing to do that... but the only way I can see at present would be to delete and recreate the character.

I'm not willing to do that, as it took a considerable effort to get him to look like me, and over the years, I've accumulated a number of things that can't be replaced (such as the costume slots that I bought before I found out they were single character purchases, or the several extremely rare crafting motifs...).

So, I'd hoped there might be a way to reset all the quest progress. That way, I could just go back and start over in Seyda Neen.

If that's not possible, the only other solution would be to try to recreate the journal as it happened... but it would lose the sense of veracity it had originally, as each experience was described as it happened.

Anyway, I'll look for those addons, and see if they help. Thanks.

ApexNorth

It'd be awesome if Bethesda added an option to add a bio to your character. I wish you the best of luck recreating the journals it sounds like some amazing reading material!

Morgha_Kul

I downloaded the Quest Log addon... and boy does it frustrate me.

It lists all the quests I've done in each zone, and all those I've not done. That's great. The thing stinging me now are the lists of quests I MISSED, and therefore CAN'T do now. I hate loose ends, and I hate missing content. Seeing there are quests I missed is causing me such angst, I almost feel like a teenager again.

Here's a tease, the first day in the Elder Scrolls life of Stephen of Canada....

Journal of Stephen of Canada

I had gone to bed the night before, as I always did. A cup of tea, checked my email and other such mundane things. Updated some thoughts for my Thesis, and read an article before going to my room and tucking in for the night. I expected to awaken and go to work the next day as usual. That was not what happened.


Falling...
Water...?
Drowning.....

Day 1
I awoke in a strange place. I was not in my bed, not even in my room. I was in a cage, itself inside a room made from some strange organic material, like the inside of a turtle's shell. The air was musty, strange. I was clad in rough clothing of a material like burlap, and my hands were shackled with crude iron. I had no idea how I came to be in this strange state, but none of this was on my mind in that moment, because across the cell from me was a... creature. Man-sized and shaped, it was reptilian, with scaled skin, webbed spines and horns, even a tail. It's face was still reptilian, with a muzzle instead of a nose, but it still seemed more human than lizard. It also was clad in burlap clothing, though its hands were free.

I retreated as far back into to corner of the cage as I could, trying to get as far from this terrifying creature as I could. Seeing me rising to my feet, it SPOKE, alerting someone named "Naryu" in the other room that I had awakened. Its voice was gravelly, yet still slightly sibilant, a vague hiss that seemed in keeping with its reptilian appearance. However, it didn't seem to be aggressive. Its voice was even somewhat reassuring in tone. It spoke to me next, telling me Naryu was waiting for me in the next room. Slowly, cautiously, I edged past the creature, and backed out into the next room.

Turning, I looked around. This room was much larger, with a high ceiling. The walls were rough, and appeared organic. This was definitely meant to look like a gigantic shell of some kind, perhaps that of a giant insect or reptile. Naryu was standing nearby, an amused smirk on her lean face. She had a humanoid body, lean and athletic, clad in tight leather... but she was not human either. Her face was dark, her skin a bluish ebony colour, and her eyes were like red gemstones, and reflected the dim light. Her dark red hair fell about her shoulders, and her long, pointed ears poked through her locks. She spoke, and I suddenly realized neither she nor the lizard creature in the other room had been speaking english... yet I understood them perfectly. She offered to remove my shackles, and I held out my hands. She now explained where I was, a prisoner of slavers operating from a place called Fort Firemoth. She saw my confusion, and explained it didn't matter if I knew where I was, only that she needed my help to free everyone here from the slavers. I tried to explain that I wouldn't be much help, but she insisted I was the only candidate. The others had been cowed and weakened by abuse and starvation, but I was new enough to still have my strength. I said I would do what I could, and she sent me out to get some supplies while she freed the others.

I exited the strange structure into a whole different world. It was night, and I was met by the sounds of strange birds and insects. The air was cool, and a sea breeze stung my nostrils with a salty scent, mixed with the smell of strange plants of all sorts. The shell was high on a hill, overlooking a small island. From my vantage point, I could see down to the shore, but I was distracted at first by the mushrooms. They towered over me like bizarre trees, some as much as 20 feet tall. Off in the distance I could see the glowing peak of a volcano, apparently on the larger main island of this strange land. Off to the east a gigantic rock was floating in the air. However, most disturbing were the MOONS, TWO of them, one red and one blue, large in the sky overhead. I was clearly not even on my own WORLD.

Putting my confusion aside to consider more immediate concerns, I made my way cautiously down the hill to a group of smaller shell structures where the slavers apparently resided. Naryu had asked that I find weapons and disguises in the huts and a the key to the compound gate, then meet the others before leaving the compound for the shore and freedom. I opened the lock on the first hut with ease, and found several primitive weapons within, swords and bows, as well as some crude armour, which I donned. From there, I moved to a second hut. Within was a strange animal, asleep on the floor. It was large, perhaps the size of a cow, but had only two legs, a short tail... and almost no body. The animal was almost all head and mouth. Not wanting to wake it, I slipped down the stairs and found a key for the front gate in a rough iron chest. I slipped out again without waking the beast, grateful for my natural stealthiness. I'd always been very quiet. In the third hut a blue skinned man was asleep on the floor, drunk into unconsiousness. I took his slaver's garb, and slipped down the stairs to gather other supplies. As I was leaving, however, I was spotted by one of the slavers. Dark skinned, like Naryu, he was armed with a sword of crude steel. However, he only noticed me at the last moment before I slipped away, and I was able to escape pursuit.

I met the other slaves near the gate to the shore, the strange lizard man, whose name I learned was Eokii, and two others of his kind, along with a pair of feline humanoids, and two humans, a gaunt man and a tall, rather stunning woman. I always did have a weakness for redheads. I gave out the weapons and armour, then met Naryu on the hill overlooking the gate. She explained we would need a distraction before slipping onto the slavers' ship. She explained she was an assassin, and the captain was her target. I told her I was NOT interested in killing anyone, but she assured me I wouldn't have to. She would just need some help getting on the ship and creating a distraction. Reluctantly, I agreed and we went out to the shore and dock. The slavers were there, patrolling about. The freed slaves had been spotted, and many were running about trying to evade recapture. Naryu told me to find some "kindlepitch" with which to start a fire while she found a transport to the ship. I ducked under the a dock and evaded the guards as I went to the storage shed. However, I found that the others had already been captured.

What was I to do? I was no fighter, and these were all experienced warriors, armed and armoured. How could I hope to overpower them? Perhaps I could take on one, but two? Three? The first slave was the human woman, Hreifryd, being threatened by two slavers. Both had their backs to me, so I had the benefit of surprise. However, I had chosen NOT to arm myself. All I had was a round shield and some steel gauntlets. However, I felt my martial arts training from childhood might sustain me in a confrontation. So, I slipped up quietly while they were threatening Hreifryd, and struck one of them at the base of his neck with the edge of my shield. To my amazement, he fell forward, out cold. I blinked, surprised by the strength I had. Somehow, on this world, I was far stronger than on my own. The other slaver turned, weapon in hand, and swung at me. I was able to avoid the attack, and with a series of powerful blows, I overcame him as well, with no injuries. I helped the Hreifryd to her feet, and she embraced me gratefully. I sent her to where I had seen a small boat she and the others could use to escape, and I made my way around the docks to free the other slaves. I attacked the slavers in each case, and found myself well able to defeat them, even in groups of two or three. My strength was phenomenal, and their blows, what they were able to land, were either blocked by the armour I was wearing or did little actual harm. I had suffered worse injuries playing hockey! Finally, I gathered the kindlepitch for Naryu, and met her at another small boat. We went across to the slavers' ship, which was anchored just off shore, while the others escaped to the main island, not far away.

Making our way up the anchor cables, we slipped into the back of the slavers' ship. As we did, the ship suddenly came under attack by another, smaller ship, emerging from the light fog along the shore and firing burning ballista bolts into the slave ship. Naryu was pleased for the additional distraction, and we went out on deck. Naryu disappeared below decks quickly, but I lagged behind, avoiding the fires on deck. Before I could get below, however, a blue skinned woman in heavy armour, with sword and shield emerged, blocking the way. I ducked down, and slipped around unseen behind her, then dropped down to the lower deck. I went forward as Naryu had instructed me, and tossed the kindlepitch molotov cocktail into the forward compartment. It exploded, filling the air with acrid smoke, as the ship's bow became an inferno. As I tried to move back to the hatch to the deck, the captain suddenly blocked my way, cursing at me. I glanced around looking for an escape, but suddenly Naryu appeared behind him and killed him with her daggers. I'd never seen anyone die before. Never really seen death. I felt dizzy, and my head felt warm and heavy. Naryu called for me to run and get off the ship, but my legs didn't want to work. I staggered up the gangway after her, but once on deck, I found myself facing the ship's first mate, the armoured woman I'd seen earlier. She attacked me, and adrenalin snapped me out of my daze. I still had my round shield, though I still wouldn't use a weapon, and wielded it like Captain America, defending myself until I could knock the mate out. With the ship in flames, I dashed to the side and jumped into the water... but I forgot I was wearing armour. I was never a strong swimmer, and now I found myself sinking like a stone, unable to surface. I tried not to panic, but I've always been afraid of water, ever since I nearly drowned as a child. I pulled at the armour, and struggled to rise to the surface... but it was dark and grew darker.....