--- Necromancer Lair ---

(house mod for TESIV: Oblivion)

by doubledeviant

This mod places a lair designed for a necromancer into the Chorrol sewers for player use.

When you load a save with this mod active, a letter will be delivered to you. Read it.

Mesh and texture resources by Hel Borne, Phoenix Amon, and Cryonaut are used in this mod.

Special thanks and appreciation to PacificMorrowind for creating a set of custom red eyes for Black Shuck.

Ceridwen is based on one of ntobmodfan's Beautiful Women.

Version 1.1:

Altar of the Damned added: Removes bounty for half the amount.

Portal to Lair map marker added (must discover).

Version 1.2:

Black Shuck hellhound companion added.

Ability to seal portal and lock gate added.

Version 1.3:

Ceridwen vampire companion added.

Version 1.4:

Minor internal changes (new game or clean save required).
Ceridwen's Spellbook added (read: learn Ceridwen's brand of Illusion).
Ceridwen's Blood added (drink: Porphyric Hemophilia).
7zip compression added.

Installation is standard.

All storage within the lair is safe (non-respawning, won't "eat" items).

Loot is minimal (apprentice alchemy set, scale and weights, ritual blade, crystal ball).

Altars provide for enchanting and spellmaking.

Workroom is upper class, living area is middle class, clutter is minimal, space is left in the first room to station summons/servants/pets/guards.

Black Shuck:

- levels with you to remain useful.
- can follow you or wait for you (menu selection).
- won't become hostile if hit by friendly fire.
- will defend you from hostile creatures.
- will attack anyone including guards upon whom you cast Unleash Hell.
- will sneak when you sneak.
- can be summoned to your side anytime that you cast Summon Black Shuck.
- can keep pace with you while you are riding a horse.
- can breathe underwater and is 100% resistant to fire.

Ceridwen:

- is a female vampire waiting for you in the lair.
- does not suffer sun damage but will don protective clothing if taken outdoors during daylight and refuse to wear anything else until taken indoors/underground or night falls.
- will feed on any sleeping NPC upon whom you cast Sate Hunger.
- is a mage (focus: Restoration, Illusion, and Destruction (Frost)).
- can teach you her brand of Illusion.
- has full companion share and stat menu.
- levels with you according to a fully-customized class-package (instead of the generic default levelling used by some companion mods).
- can follow you or wait for you (menu selection).
- won't become hostile if hit by friendly fire.
- will fight at your side against any foe including guards.
- will sneak when you sneak.
- can be summoned to your side anytime that you cast Bloodbond: Ceridwen.
- can breathe underwater.

--- Letter Spoiler ---

Hail!

I could scarce believe that you were arrested so soon after your arrival in Cyrodiil, and for such a charge! I am most curious as to exactly how you attained your freedom. Knowing you, I assume it will be a most interesting story.

I have arranged a safehaven for you as agreed at our last meeting. As we discussed, this sanctuary lies in the sewers of Chorrol, the city that I recommended to you as an ideal location for your purposes when you first spoke to me of the possibility of visiting my homeland. Your gold has been well spent. The lair has been outfitted as you directed, and I believe that you will be most pleased.

The lair is accessible via a crumbling, abandoned mine outside the city walls. Be always wary in the mines until you have reached the lair. Banditry has increased tenfold of late, and the fool thieves seem to have a knack for ferreting out every possible place in which to hide from the Legion.

I have made arrangements with Bongond at North Country Stables, near the south gate of Chorrol. He will stable your horse or whatever manner of beast serves as your mount, and a portal to the lair has been installed behind the stables in a discreet spot. The portal is secure and cannot be activated without the keystone delivered to you with this message.

I will visit you as soon as I have concluded a certain matter and returned to Chorrol.

Your True Friend,

Albecius Colollius

--- End ---

Ceridwen:

- is a female vampire waiting for you in the lair.

- does not suffer sun damage but will don protective clothing if taken outdoors during daylight and refuse to wear anything else until taken indoors/underground or night falls.

- will feed on any sleeping NPC upon whom you cast Sate Hunger.

- is a mage (focus: Restoration, Illusion, and Destruction (Frost)).

- will teach you her brand of Illusion when you find her.

- has full companion share and stat menu.

- levels with you according to a fully-customized class-package (instead of the generic default levelling used by some companion mods).

- can follow you or wait for you (menu selection).

- won't become hostile if hit by friendly fire.

- will fight at your side against any foe including guards.

- will sneak when you sneak.

- should not get lost but can be summoned to your side anytime that you cast Bloodbond: Ceridwen.

- can breathe underwater.

Ceridwen is built in the tradition of Hilda (a Morrowind companion mod): She doesn't have much dialogue or an extensive story and is meant to be a loyal and fun companion without hassles.

Please feel free to provide feedback!

Download & Screenshots:

http://planetelderscrolls.gamespy.com/View.php?view=OblivionMods.Detail&id=5805

About:

Another companion? Where did the all the stories go? D:

Not to be cynical or negative or anything (it looks decent), but I've always hoped for stories in companion mods. The only real ones I've found were from Simyaz's work, and few companion mods that were fairly massive and recent, but I have yet to play.

I dunno, I've always had trouble using companions with no back story. Add a quest or two and you'd make this an insta-download for me. ^^

In some ways, I'm the opposite. I don't like having to lay aside whatever I'm doing because my companion runs away and initiates a "show me you love me by chasing me halfway around the world" quest. Plus, TES isn't dialogue-heavy by default. However...

I appreciate your feedback and might be willing to add a short backstory/quests. Any ideas? I definitely DON'T want a tortured-vampire story. I see Ceridwen enjoying her undeath and reveling in her nighttime hunting. I haven't been thinking about a story, to be honest (I always enjoyed playing Morrowind with Hilda, queen of no-story), so I'm open to suggestions.

Also, if you like, I can upload version 1.2 (without Ceridwen) as an alternate option if you want that version of the mod.

snip

I'll put some thought to this, then. I'm taking a short break from modding for a week or two, I think, if no one has any problems/bugs that need attention. I've put a LOT of time into this project (I didn't know how to do half of what I needed to do when I started), and I don't want to burn myself out on modding. I'll be doing some reading and relaxing, so perhaps inspiration will strike.