So twice in the last week, I have had followers die during combat without me, the player, noticing until it was too late. Either I've suddenly become really oblvious to where the weapon is striking in combat, or my character has a split personality and is a secret killer. Or my game is bugging.

First, it was Meeko who charged ahead, around a corner, in Redoran's Retreat. By the time Solveig caught up and finished off the last bandit, Meeko was lying lifeless on the ground, off to the side. Confusingly, I found one of Solveig's arrows in his corpse. We grieved, and felt awful. We want to believe that Solveig couldn't have killed Meeko, he was out of sight and out of range the whole battle! But that arrow...

Then yesterday, Solvieg and her friends Erik and Uthgerd were raiding Serpent's Bluff Redoubt. All three of us fought the Briarheart in the courtyard before the dungeon entrance. After finishing him off, Solveig heard the twang of a bow from across the camp. She sprinted over and dispatched the last Forsworn, with Erik in tow. We then turned around and headed back towards the door to the keep, only to find Uthgerd bleeding out into the dirt. We had ran past her toward the archer without even noticing! Her last moments were spent alone. Solvieg was shocked to utter disbelief. How could this happen again?! Is she cursed?

As the player, I am pretty confused. My followers are dropping like flies. I swear I did not hit Meeko or Uthgerd, and I thought that followers were pretty much essential otherwise. Maybe they were killed by poison? Or maybe my game is haunted. It was so creepy to walk back to the courtyard and find Uthgerd's dead body, knowing I had ran past it a moment ago without even seeing. Fortunately, this turn of events, be it game-bugs or combat mistakes, has taken my roleplay on an interesting turn.

Anyone else have stories of death and regret in your game you want to share? Anyone else have a character that kills off their friends?

First, my condolences. Are you sure that was Solveig's arrow in Meeko? Was she using a special kind that no one else was using?

Followers are protected, which usually means they cannot be killed except by you, the player. However, if they're at really low health, anything that gives damage over time can finish them off. Usually, that means poison, but also includes some magical effects. Were you fighting any poisonous (chaurus, frostbite spiders) or magical enemies?

(BTW, I love your characters name!)

It was a Forsworn arrow, only Solvieg was using those. As far as I know, no poison was involved unless the Briarheart had poisoned his sword.

Thanks for the name love.

I was in the Templeof Miraak, with Frea, and my husband, Onmund. I don't know why this happens, but quest followers keep attacking and killing him. This has happened with Ralof and Frea, and I have to keep reloading saves.

The only possible reason I could see them attacking Onmund is because he spams Chain Lightning, and may have hit them.

I have had that happen before with Belrand and Marcurio. So frustrating! Luckily I now have mods that (supposedly) turn off friendly fire aggro. Hasn't happened since, at least.

That's it. Trying to get through High Gate Ruins with both Anska and Marcurio was - interesting. That was on PS3 though. Now I also have mods taking care of friendly fire. (Better Magic makes chain lightning only hit hostiles, and with UFO you can set your followers to ignore friendly hits)

I did have an interesting journey on Solstheim though, with Jenassa, Teldryn, and Teldryn's Flame Atronach. Even though Teldryn and Jenassa were set to ignore hits from each other, I couldn't set the atronach to ignore hits from Jenassa. So it started to fight Jenassa, she hit back, Teldryn got cranky because she was trying to kill his pet, he hit her. And since I had them both set to essential with UFO... Well, it went on for a while, until I reloaded and managed to avoid the whole situation. (Teldryn would have won, though. Poor Jen went down on her knees a couple of times.)

I killed my characters wife Jenessa by accident several time using runes to power level my destruction while still being able to enjoy combat and not farm an NPC. So much so I just broke down and got the friendly fire mod. Now all my friends are safe and most guards .

Yes, I was attacked by quest followers before when I used chain lightning... Eola most recently. Had to reload.