Followers: Blades or Not

[Adipose]

There are several Blades follower mods available, not a huge number, but enough to make up a player support group. There is now a merchant available who specializes in Blades related material. At first I was quite enthusiastic about adding them to my game. However, if one buys into the vanilla plot which, according to Delphine, has the Thalmor actively seeking to expunge any and all Blades remnants then one is faced with a plot conflict. Delphine, and all other Blades who've survived, have done so by remaining underground. With that factor in mind, if one chooses to run a Blades character then how does one get around the plot conflict...assuming that a commitment has been made to faithful role play? I mean, openly patronizing a Blades armory??? Lol! I hear the pitter-patter of sneaky Thalmor feet as they come to burn out the shop.

 

Speaking for me, if I were to run a Blades character, I'd definitely be living in a solid hideout, maybe several little hidden spots. Living in a high profile establishment such as Breti's Japan Lodge, while a truly beautiful, amazing estate, would be an open invitation to assault by a number of Thalmor. Of course, unless someone creates a mod that brings that about, it's all good and the player is safe. Now, I've played the whole Delphine-Esbern sub plot but the vanilla form just kinda fades out after taking back Skyhaven...iIrc. There is a mod that provides for rebuilding the Blades at the temple, however, I've not played it and don't know how much impact it has on the game. My guess is not much. Frex, does the temple become a player home with safe storage and all that? There is no open resurgence of the Blades as I recall. If there were, one would expect the Penitus Occulatus (sp?) to become interested, perhaps even hostile.

 

It would have been nice if Bethesda had introduced a Blades oriented expansion of the vanilla game. Of course, that's true of a lot of the little sub-plots that have been hinted at but never really pursued beyond a few sub-quests. Generally, it's probably safe to say that Skyrim is not plot oriented. Now, combine Skyrim with a strong plot and we'd really have something.

 

So, if I choose to run a Blades character, I'll need to make up role play as I go along. Decide beforehand how I'm going to handle various scenarios and then go for it. Shucks, I may even write out a few interactions as I go along. It'll all be hypothetical since there'll be no game reaction to what I do, except for when my game play interacts with what little central plot there is.

 

Btw, iIrc, the original Blades temple in, what, Oblivion, was styled somewhat after the architecture of Medieval Japan...wasn't it?

 

I'd really like to see a TES spin-off based on the Akaviri, with a really strong plot line. Ah well, I think time will likely catch up with me before that happens.