LE Revival of the House Hlaalu

[TomasiMaltese]

Hi !

 

I'm here to show you my project about a mod whose story would take place in the Grey Quarter and would improve the story about this quarter in the videogame. Let's be honest, the Grey Quarter was a good idea on the paper but, in real, there's nothing exciting in the game about it.

So, I've decided to develop a story that would change a little depending the race of your character. Please read all the explanations below (I know, this is a big long...) and forgive me about my english (this is not my native language).

 

Renascence of the House Hlaalu

 

A.Join the faction.

 

First of all, there should be a little group of dunmers seeking to oppose the Nords of Windhelm to be heard, to have the opportunity to live in the city and Skyrim like anyone else and to develop the Grey Quarter. I thought Belyn Hlaalu might be the chief of that little group, seeking to revive the House Hlaalu in the same way.

 

Then, we should be able to join this faction but, according to our character, in different ways.

Thus, in case where our character would be a Dunmer, we should be able to join the faction directly after receiving a letter (after completing a number of quests - which could correspond to a certain fame in Skyrim and in the letter). This letter would be an invitation to join a man in one of the rooms below the bridge of Windhelm. This man would be an associate of Belyn Hlaalu who would make us enter in Windhelm by underground and would explain us the dunmers' situation in Windhelm and the Grey Quarter. Then, he would lead us directly in the headquarter of the faction where, finally, we would meet Belyn Hlaalu. There, we would learn the essential about the faction and its goals and we could officially join it. From there, the missions would be given directly by Belyn Hlaalu.

 

If our character is a Bosmer or an Altmer, we would have to go to Windhelm to trigger the quest (by talking to the female dunmer after helping her against the two Nords who are harassing her when we get in the city for the first time). This female dunmer could ask us:
If we are a Bosmer: "But you who are not so far from us other Dunmer, perhaps you could help us ?"
If we are an Altmer: "But you who are somewhat responsible for these conflicts between the Nords and the Mers these days, maybe you feel concerned?"
From there, depending to our answer ("Yes"/"No"), she could tell us to join a man in the New Gnisis and ask him:
If we are a Bosmer: "I want to help the Dunmers and the Grey Quarter."

If we are an Altmer: "I feel somewhat responsible when I see the state of the Grey Quarter. I know that the actions of Altmers and the Thalmor in Skyrim influence tensions between the Nords and the Mers. I wish I could redeem myself from your people."
Then, the guy we came to see would act so:
If we are a Bosmer, he would lead us in a cellar under the New Gnisis where we would meet a strange guy with his face masks (Belyn Hlaalu with a mask). There, they would give us a quest: caught the Nord who likes to fight dunmers in the act by finding him in one of the house of the Grey Quarter, threatening a dunmer. We would have to lock him in a room and then call a guard. This quest finished, we could go back to the cellar under the New Gnisis where we would met Belyn Hlaalu and join officially the faction. From there, Belyn would give us some quests only from that cellar and we would not see the headquarter of the faction before a few other quests.
If we are an Altmer, he would ask us to prove we want to redeem ourselves. To do so, we would have to caught the Nord who likes to fight dunmers in the act by finding him in one of the house of the Grey Quarter, threatening a dunmer. We would have to lock him in a room and then call a guard. This quest finished, we could go back to the New Gnisis. There, the guy would take this act as a proof. He would lead us to the cellar under the New Gnisis where we would meet a strange guy with his face masks (Belyn Hlaalu with a mask). Then, this masked guy would give us a few quests to complete before officially joining the faction. After that, we would have a few other more quests before being able to go to the headquarters of the faction.

If our character is a Khajiit, a Redguard, a Breton or an Imperial, we would have to go to Windhelm and directly to the New Gnisis to trigger the quest (by talking to the guy in the club). From there, we would have to tell him: "I want to help the Dunmers and the Grey Quarter." Then, he would ask us to prove we are not some spy from the Nords. To do so, we would have to caught the Nord who likes to fight dunmers in the act by finding him in one of the house of the Grey Quarter, threatening a dunmer. We would have to lock him in a room and then call a guard. This quest finished, we could go back to the New Gnisis. There, the guy would take this act as a proof. But, he would give us some other quests to be sure we are motivate. After a few quests, he would lead us to the cellar under the New Gnisis where we would meet a strange guy with his face masks (Belyn Hlaalu with a mask). Then, this masked guy would give us a few quests to complete before officially joining the faction. After that, we would have a few other more quests before being able to go to the headquarters of the faction.

If our character is a Nord, we would have to go to Windhelm and directly to the New Gnisis to trigger the quest (by talking to the guy in the club). From there, we would have to tell him: "I know I am Nord and understanding between our two peoples is difficult, but I want to show that we are not all you haters. I want to help the Dunmers and the Grey Quarter." Then, he would ask us to prove we are not some spy from Ulfric and the Stormcloaks. To do so, we would have to do two quests:
Firstly, we would have to caught the Nord who likes to fight dunmers in the act by finding him in one of the house of the Grey Quarter, threatening a dunmer. We would have to lock him in a room and then call a guard.
Secondly, we would have to steal some secret documents in Ulfric's bedroom about the Grey Quarter and his doubts that the killer of Windhelm is a dunmer.
These quests finished, we could go back to the New Gnisis. There, the guy would ask us to resolve the quest "Blood on the ice" (in order to prove that the killer isn't a dunmer). This quest finished, we would go back to the New Gnisis. There, the guy would take this act as a proof. But, he would give us some other quests to be sure we are motivate. After a few quests, he would lead us to the cellar under the New Gnisis. There, he would explain us that the main chief of his faction doesn't trust us yet, but that we are on track to join them. To be more discrete, we would have to meet him there everytime. There, the guy would give us some other quests. After which we will meet a strange guy with his face masks (Belyn Hlaalu with a mask). There, the faced guy would give us one big quest (I was thinking about a quest including the Thalmor ambassy) before he would lead us to the headquarters and officially accept us in the faction (with a little speech to the troops about the fact that people can change).

If our character is an Argonian, it would be impossible to join the faction. We would have the possibility to talk to the guy in the New Gnisis, but I will not answer, or he will be really fierce.

B. The main faction quests.

 

Here, I think there should be a single path, no matter the race of the character, with perhaps some additional quests for Nords characters.

I thought about three parallels paths of quests. One path to improve the Grey Quarter (by a contract with the sawmill of Anga, by escorting merchant to Windhelm, by leading Aranéa Iénith from the Azura's shrine to the Grey Quarter - after the daedric quest - to make a temple, etc). Another path to improve the neighborhood's image in the eyes of the people of Windhelm (by making quests helping Windhelm from the game - as The White Phial - and some new ones). And one last path to improve the House Hlaalu, with a bigger headquarter, some new recruits and, why not, some outposts in other cities of Skyrim.

Maybe we could have some quests concerning Riften (where the dunmers are much more welcome) and some merchants, or the Khajiit caravans...
Also, I thought about another path of quests concerning the civil war and depending the side we could have chosen, but I don't know if it's possible (I thinkg it might be too difficult to do).

C. Rewards/Final changes.

 

At the end of all these quests, we shouldn't become the leader of the faction, but:
If we are a Dunmer, a Bosmer or an Altmer, the henchman, or the confidant, of Belyn Hlaalu and an honored guest or a member with an honorary title of the House Hlaalu and the Grey Quarter.

With that, we could have a house in the Grey Quarter (something fun but not kitsch or hallucinating with a nightclub instead of an enchantment and alchemy table).

And, finally, the Grey Quarter could evolve as quests are going on. I was even thinking about some dunmer sguards in a Hlaalu armor (a variant from the redoran armor, that could be done as a gift from the whole quarter at the end).

D. A few extra additions.

When we look at the Grey Quarter from the sky, we can see two lanes forming a diamond-shaped building with a thick wall around it, forming the walls of Windhelm.. Knowing that, I think it would be "easy" to add some homes on different levels or in empty places.
To add some homes, but an Azura's temple and maybe a blacksmith specializing in the elven armor (vanilla and mods), too. And, of course, the Hlaalu headquarters.

The New Gnisis could be improve as well.
Two armors could be had:
One for the members of the faction and one in chitin for some dunmers guards (3 or 4) in the two lanes.

 

There is one big thing I would like to add to this mod: being able to play this quest as a falmer (from the mod "Snow Elf Race - The True Falmer"). I love that race and I'm playing one in the game. So, maybe it could be cool to add some lines of dialogue when we met the guy in the New Gnisis, like: "You are not an Altmer or from any race I could know. What are you ?" By answering, "I'm a falmer from the Jerall Mountains" (for example), he could just tell us: "Well, this is not something you see every day." (or prepare some lambda lines of dialogue for every mods adding new races).
I want this because I make a huge scenario for a Skyrim mod about ancients falmers.

E. Note.

The title I finally choose is "Renascence of the House Hlaalu". But I don't know how to change the title of this topic (and if we can do that, indeed).
If using Belyn Hlaalu is too complicated, it should be able to create another hlaalu's character (like a brother or something).
What I've told you in all that description is only what I have in my mind. All is not fixed and dialogues are purely symbolic.
If some people are interesting to help me to make this mod a real thing, just contact me ! I have a scriptwriter formation from Quebec and I know how to built a scenario for cinema, TV, web AND videogames.

I hope, at least, I will have some feedback about this.

Edited November 4, 2014 by TomasiMaltese

[Boombro]

Well, I can help in writing, testing and I can make cells and small buildings formations. Edited November 4, 2014 by Boombro

[tx12001]

Are you forgetting House Hlaalu tries to kill you in a Quest on Solstheim after failing an attempt of the councilers life? and are you forgetting Neloth make you a member of House Telvanni?

[TomasiMaltese]

tx12001: I didn't know about the fact that House Hlaalu on Solstheim, because I do not have finish all the game, yet. I don't have been on Solstheim, yet.

About the fact we join the House Telvanni, I don't see where is the problem... I mean, in the Elder Scrolls iII, we could join only one House, but, in view of the situation of the dunmers at the time of the game Skyrim, it's not impossible to make Belyn Hlaalu explain to us that the House Hlaalu would be honored if we only join them, but that they can't stop us to join the House Telvanni as they don't have a lot of power in Solstheim. Something like that.

But, the plan of my mod is to use the Grey Quarter and to make something serious with it. So, if the House Hlaalu already appears in Dragonborn, I can easily change the House. I can take the House Dres (there is already a mod about the last Prince of Tear, it could be useful to purchase that story).

If you want to help me, I would be glad to have some date about the House Dres (of course I will seek about that House from my place, but if you know things about it, don't hesitate) and if you are interested to help me about modding, you're welcome.

 

Boombro: So, I will rewrite my scenario with the House Dres. But, I'm glad you are interested to help me. I will contact you by private message.

If others want to help, just contact me !

[jsl]

Is this mod still a serious concept? Currently I'm playing a Dunmer and actually have married Aranea, thanks to Amazing Follower Tweaks (or Marriable Aranea Ienith - which I installed before I realized AFT added her her to the marrage faction). But my point is, now I wish I could help the Dunmer in Windhelm, and this project seems to be exactly what I was looking for.

 

Anyway, I do not know my way around the creation kit real well, but have played with it a little. But I would be certainly be willing to increase my CK abilities, or help in whatever way I can, such as helping to fleshout dialog and storyline, or voice acting (haven't done that, but would be happy to see what you think), to testing, etc.