Experiences Running With NPC's

There are a few occasions when NPC's ask you to meet them at a specific location, and you have the option to travel together or just fast travel to, or near to said location. In my current playthrough I've endeavored to cut my fast travel use significantly and thus, have had some new adventures.

The first one was a couple nights ago with the Companions. I don't typically do their quest line, so I was quite amused when everyone drew their weapons, "For Kodlak!," and ran all the way to the tomb of Ysgramor. So this time, I drew Wuuthrad and ran with them! Well... it wasn't long before I had to sheath Wuuthrad because I was falling too far behind. Just outside of Whiterun we all got to slay a dragon together, with some guards and Gwendolyn joining in. It was funny, after the battle, seeing the cow and all the chickens who'd fled making their way down the road to their respective farms.

There were many encounters with spiders, wolves, bears, and bandits on the way. Yet by and by the party became more and more separated. Farkas must've stopped for a drink as he fell behind and out of sight early. Around the tower overlooking Dawnstar, Vilkas got stuck behind boulder and couldn't seem to extricate himself, so I kept pace with Aela, who ran on ahead. Soon after, she got lost. The Huntress would stop at the end of this mountain trail, then backtrack about 200 yards, then stop and run back the other way. After the third time I decided to make my way without her. I made it to the tomb from there without encountering any of them again, for they were already inside waiting for me when I arrived. Some companions...

Last night I ran with Delphine from Riverwood to Kyne's Grove for the first time. I don't hate Delphine as much as most here do, and I actually enjoyed our little run. She actually had commentary on some of the sites along the way, which actually made me long for more of these types of adventures. When we got to Valtheim Towers, she said something about this being a known bandit hideout and that we might have to kill a few. I'd already cleared the tower early in my game, but it was since repopulated. Strangely, they weren't hostile. I even came upon the one that usually stops you for a toll, (she was strolling up the road in the opposite direction we were going), and she passed without saying a word, so I engaged her in dialog. When she said, "This is a toll road, see.." I just cancelled the dialog and went on my way and I could here her behind me saying, "Ohh, that's a shame.." but she never became hostile, which I thought was very strange. They must've known who I was. Delphine did remark about five times that it's good to travel together because she didn't want me to get killed before we got there. At least she was polite enough to wait on me when as I mined some iron.

So who else does this? How have your experiences on these particular quests differed from mine?

Sometimes. The other day I shadowed Gaius Maro from Dragonbridge to Solitude instead of waiting for him in one of the cities. Helped him out from the shadows against a huge bear that attacked him, against which he didnt seem to make any progress. Although as soon as we stepped into town he got a dagger through the throat

Mithro'I said:

Sometimes. The other day I shadowed Gaius Maro from Dragonbridge to Solitude instead of waiting for him in one of the cities. Helped him out from the shadows against a huge bear that attacked him, against which he didnt seem to make any progress. Although as soon as we stepped into town he got a dagger through the throat

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I imagine a bear a bear all black and brown and covered in hair would give Gaius a good walloping.

yes, he is such a fair maiden

I remember traveling on foot to Dustman's Cairn with Farkas during the start of the Proving Honor quest. It was currently an undiscovered area, so fast traveling there was obviously out of the question. Anyway, thank the Divines Farkas was along for the ride, since I think we got attacked by almost every known creature in the game, or at least it felt that way.

Vampires as we were leaving Whiterun (since it was night time and I was eager to get the quest under way). Mudcrabs next (piece of cake). Giants/Mammoths (that was kinda my fault, since I didn't feel like detouring around Bleakwind Basin). Dragon (shot it full of arrows while Farkas acted as a meat shield). A Thalmor prisoner escort party (again, my fault for not avoiding them, but I have and always will despise those arrogant, pointy-eared hobgoblins). Bandits from Silent Moons camp (probably could have avoided them, but they started firing on us first, so we had to make them suffer for their transgressions). Finally, almost there! (it is at this point that Farkas is on the ground huddling in the fetal postion and sucking his thumb like a little baby, while I proceed to dig the sabrecat's teeth out of my ass). Oh yea, forgot to mention that one, didn't I? Sabrecat's are the sneakiest bastards in all of Skyrim, in fact they literally make me jump out of my chair whenever they sneak up from behind and pounce on my not-so-sneaky character. In all honesty though, Farkas was a lot of help since my character was still at a rather low level, but that was the last time: 1) I traveled at night. 2) I travelled to Dustman's Cairn. 3) I travelled with Farkas (no offense, big guy, but for some reason you seem to act as a 'bad guy' magnet in my game).



Finally, after all that grief, my character has decided to just stay home and live out an early retirement selling skeever-tail mead to unsuspecting travelers...

Black Orchid said:

I remember traveling on foot to Dustman's Cairn with Farkas during the start of the Proving Honor quest. It was currently an undiscovered area, so fast traveling there was obviously out of the question. Anyway, thank the Divines Farkas was along for the ride, since I think we got attacked by almost every known creature in the game, or at least it felt that way.

Vampires as we were leaving Whiterun (since it was night time and I was eager to get the quest under way). Mudcrabs next (piece of cake). Giants/Mammoths (that was kinda my fault, since I didn't feel like detouring around Bleakwind Basin). Dragon (shot it full of arrows while Farkas acted as a meat shield). A Thalmor prisoner escort party (again, my fault for not avoiding them, but I have and always will despise those arrogant, pointy-eared hobgoblins). Bandits from Silent Moons camp (probably could have avoided them, but they started firing on us first, so we had to make them suffer for their transgressions). Finally, almost there! (it is at this point that Farkas is on the ground huddling in the fetal postion and sucking his thumb like a little baby, while I proceed to dig the sabrecat's teeth out of my ass). Oh yea, forgot to mention that one, didn't I? Sabrecat's are the sneakiest bastards in all of Skyrim, in fact they literally make me jump out of my chair whenever they sneak up from behind and pounce on my not-so-sneaky character. In all honesty though, Farkas was a lot of help since my character was still at a rather low level, but that was the last time: 1) I traveled at night. 2) I travelled to Dustman's Cairn. 3) I travelled with Farkas (no offense, big guy, but for some reason you seem to act as a 'bad guy' magnet in my game).



Finally, after all that grief, my character has decided to just stay home and live out an early retirement selling skeever-tail mead to unsuspecting travelers...

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Sabercats are the worst to encounter early on, indeed.