Expanding Hearthfire's adoption system even further

[KayO199X]

For a role player such as myself, the adoption system in Hearthfire was easily my favorite DLC feature, because it greatly improved family life in Skyrim.

I got to thinking, Bethesda can't stop here. There are so many possibilities that have yet to be explored. I have 4 suggestions...

1. Non-human children- There really needs to be some non human children. Some examples include...
Dunmer children in Windhelm's grey quarter.
Argonian kids in the Argonian assemblage and in Riften.
Khajiit cubs with the khajiit caravans.
Orc children in the orc strongholds.

2. Biological children- with the addion of nonhuman children, Bethesda could also add biological children to skyrim. If you have a spouse of the opposite gender and compatable race (human to human, mer to mer, Khajiit to Khajiit, or Argonian to Argonian) to can ask them to "Come to bed with you". The screen goes black and your spouse says "Great news. I am with child!" or "What? Your pregnant... uh oh..." The game skips ahead 9 months to when your child is born. As a baby your child appears as simple crib in your child's bedroom (to save Bethesda some work, you can't see them in the crib). As kids, your children will have your hair and eye color and the skin color of your spouse. As adults they look identical to you, minus any scar/wrinkles and with your spouse's skin color.

3. Passing time- In order to see your kids grow up, you need to pass the years away with your family. To do this speak to your spouse and select "I think i'll take a break from my adventures". Your spouse will ask "are you sure?", say yes and the game will skip ahead 4 years. At age 4, 8, and 12, your child will use the typical child model. Once they reach 16 your child wil now be an adult and can now follow you on your adventures. How you raised them determins their fighting style (magical, phisical, or stealthy). I'll leave the issue of NPC aging to you're descretion. I personally wouldn't mind if the NPC did not age at all, because making them age would be very difficult for Bethesda.

4. Child Followers- once your child is 16, he/she can follow you like any other follower. Adoptive children have a set fighting style, while biological children will develope a fighting style based on how you raise them. In addition, biologiocal children will be dragonborn, like you, allowing you to teach them any dragon shout you already know. They will also learn new dragon shouts with you. You can tell your son/daughter which dragon shout you want them to use in battle. I'll leave the subject of weather child followers should be killable to your descretion once again.

 

[Dar'Neko]

I would love a little Khajiit cub c:

 

[andrew9300]

There is one problem with this......your offspring can't be dragonborn. Only once in a generation a dragonborn exists.

 

[KayO199X]

There is one problem with this......your offspring can't be dragonborn. Only once in a generation a dragonborn exists.

Actually that's not true. As seen in the flashback sequence at the throat of the world, there were 3 dragonborn's who fought Alduin together. Also, all the desendents of Tiber Septim were dragonborn's, as evident by their ability to wear The Amulet of Kings. The death of Martin Septim marked the end of the dragonborns for the 3rd era. Also Arngeir says something to the effect of "You are the first dragonborn to be revield in our era. Weather you are the only dragonborn of this era remains to be seen." Meaning that it's possible another dragonborn could be out there somewhere.

Getting back to the subject of Tiber Septim, if he could pass on his dragonborn abilities to all his decendents, then so could the dragonborn of skyrim.

 

[Dar'Neko]

Actually that's not true. As seen in the flashback sequence at the throat of the world, there were 3 dragonborn's who fought Alduin together. Also, all the desendents of Tiber Septim were dragonborn's, as evident by their ability to wear The Amulet of Kings. The death of Martin Septim marked the end of the dragonborns for the 3rd era. Also Arngeir says something to the effect of "You are the first dragonborn to be revield in our era. Weather you are the only dragonborn of this era remains to be seen." Meaning that it's possible another dragonborn could be out there somewhere.

Getting back to the subject of Tiber Septim, if he could pass on his dragonborn abilities to all his decendents, then so could the dragonborn of skyrim.

You silly billy, they weren't Dragonborn! Those Ancient Nords are like the Greybeards! They had to go through years of meditating to learn words of power.

 

[KayO199X]

they weren't Dragonborn! Those Ancient Nords are like the Greybeards! They had to go through years of meditating to learn words of power.

Mabie those nords weren't dragonborn, but you still can't deny the fact that being Dragonborn is something that's passed down from parent to child, as evedent by the Amulet of Kings and the Septim dynasty.

 

[Dar'Neko]

Having Dragon blood within is a gift from Akatosh. It isn't anything to do with inheritance.

 

[Neriad13]

Behold. Especially the bolded sections.

Year 360 of the Third Era, Twenty-First of the Reign of His Majesty Pelagius IV

any people have heard the term "Dragonborn" - we are of course ruled by the "Dragonborn Emperors" - but the true meaning of the term is not commonly understood. For those of us in the Order of Talos, this is a subject near and dear to our hearts, and in this book I will attempt to illuminate the history and significance of those known as Dragonborn down through the ages.
Most scholars agree that the term was first used in connection with the Covenant of Akatosh, when the blessed St. Alessia was given the Amulet of Kings and the Dragonfires in the Temple of the One were first lit. "Akatosh, looking with pity upon the plight of men, drew precious blood from his own heart, and blessed St. Alessia with this blood of Dragons, and made a Covenant that so long as Alessia's generations were true to the dragon blood, Akatosh would endeavor to seal tight the Gates of Oblivion, and to deny the armies of daedra and undead to their enemies, the Daedra-loving Ayleids." Those blessed by Akatosh with "the dragon blood" became known more simply as Dragonborn.
The connection with the rulers of the Empire was thus there from the beginning - only those of the dragon blood were able to wear the Amulet of Kings and light the Dragonfires. All the legitimate rulers of the Empire have been Dragonborn - the Emperors and Empresses of the first Cyrodilic Empire founded by Alessia; Reman Cyrodiil and his heirs; and of course Tiber Septim and his heirs, down to our current Emperor, His Majesty Pelagius Septim IV.
Because of this connection with the Emperors, however, the other significance of the Dragonborn has been obscured and largely forgotten by all but scholars and those of us dedicated to the service of the blessed Talos, Who Was Tiber Septim. Very few realize that being Dragonborn is not a simple matter of heredity - being the blessing of Akatosh Himself, it is beyond our understanding exactly how and why it is bestowed. Those who become Emperor and light the Dragonfires are surely Dragonborn - the proof is in the wearing of the Amulet and the lighting of the Fires. But were they Dragonborn and thus able to do these things - or was the doing the sign of the blessing of Akatosh descending upon them? All that we can say is that it is both, and neither - a divine mystery.
The line of Septims have all been Dragonborn, of course, which is one reason the simplistic notion of it being hereditary has become so commonplace. But we know for certain that the early Cyrodilic rulers were not all related. There is also no evidence that Reman Cyrodiil was descended from Alessia, although there are many legends that would make it so, most of them dating from the time of Reman and likely attempts to legitimize his rule. We know that the Blades, usually thought of as the Emperor's bodyguards, originated in Akaviri crusaders who invaded Tamriel for obscure reasons in the late First Era. They appear to have been searching for a Dragonborn - the events at Pale Pass bear this out - and the Akaviri were the first to proclaim Reman Cyrodiil as Dragonborn. In fact it was the Akaviri who did the most to promote his standing as Emperor (although Reman himself never took that title in his lifetime). And of course there is no known hereditary connection between Tiber Septim and any of the previous Dragonborn rulers of Tamriel.
Whether there can be more than one Dragonborn at any time is another mystery. The Emperors have done their best to dismiss this notion, but of course the Imperial succession itself means that at the very least there are two or more potential Dragonborn at any time: the current ruler and his or her heirs. The history of the Blades also hints at this - although little is known of their activities during the Interregnum between Reman's Empire and the rise of Tiber Septim, many believe that the Blades continued to search out and guard those they believed were (or might be) Dragonborn during this time.
Lastly, we come to the question of the true meaning of being Dragonborn. The connection with dragons is so obvious that it has almost been forgotten - in these days when dragons are a distant memory, we forget that in the early days being Dragonborn meant having "the dragon blood". Some scholars believe that was meant quite literally, although the exact significance is not known. The Nords tell tales of Dragonborn heroes who were great dragonslayers, able to steal the power of the dragons they killed. Indeed, it is well known that the Akaviri sought out and killed many dragons during their invasion, and there is some evidence that this continued after they became Reman Cyrodiil's Dragonguard (again, the connection to dragons) - the direct predecessor to the Blades of today.
I leave you with what is known as "The Prophecy of the Dragonborn". It often said to originate in an Elder Scroll, although it is sometimes also attributed to the ancient Akaviri. Many have attempted to decipher it, and many have also believed that its omens had been fulfilled and that the advent of the "Last Dragonborn" was at hand. I make no claims as an interpreter of prophecy, but it does suggest that the true significance of Akatosh's gift to mortalkind has yet to be fully understood.

When misrule takes its place at the eight corners of the world​

When the Brass Tower walks and Time is reshaped​

When the thrice-blessed fail and the Red Tower trembles​

When the Dragonborn Ruler loses his throne, and the White Tower falls​

When the Snow Tower lies sundered, kingless, bleeding​

The World-Eater wakes, and the Wheel turns upon the Last Dragonborn.​

​

But, back on topic, it would be quite awesome to have more depth in Skyrim family life.​

 

[pidgeoneyepete]

I'll take a few years away from adventuring nothing bad will happen like the dragons destroying the world or anything. But really I could care less with a feature like this, it sounds alot like Fable the worst RPG series I ever played.

 

[KayO199X]

it sounds alot like Fable the worst RPG series I ever played.

Did you only play Fable III? Fable II was okay, and Fable 1 was actually pretty good (particuarly the re-release). Fable III, on the other hand, was a massive dissapointment, with Peter Molyneux promising a sytem of government control that never saw the light of day.

 

[Shouts-At-Dragons]

Did you only play Fable III? Fable II was okay, and Fable 1 was actually pretty good (particuarly the re-release). Fable III, on the other hand, was a massive dissapointment, with Peter Molyneux promising a sytem of government control that never saw the light of day.

Well that's interesting, most people I know hate Fable 1. And I didn't mind Fable 3, the ending if not done correct though, does screw you over. Which I found out the hard way.

However, it would be interesting for my High Elf character to have a High Elf child. Or maybe be cross-breed.

 

[Neriad13]

However, it would be interesting for my High Elf character to have a High Elf child. Or maybe be cross-breed.

I too would like to have a little biological Dunmer daughter. Though, as Dunmer don't reproduce terribly often (perhaps four or less times during their 1000 year lifespan, according to The Real Barenziah), I can see why that probably isn't likely.

 

[Shouts-At-Dragons]

I too would like to have a little biological Dunmer daughter. Though, as Dunmer don't reproduce terribly often (perhaps four or less times during their 1000 year lifespan, according to The Real Barenziah), I can see why that probably isn't likely.

1000 years? I knew mer had way longer lifespans, but not that long! Maybe it matters differently if your a dunmer male or female. If your male, you may be able to get a local nord pregnant I suppose. So it would be a cross breed, and would occur more quickly.

 

[Neriad13]

1000 years? I knew mer had way longer lifespans, but not that long! Maybe it matters differently if your a dunmer male or female. If your male, you may be able to get a local nord pregnant I suppose. So it would be a cross breed, and would occur more quickly.

Indeed! Some Telvanni sorcerers in Morrowind have even succeeded in making it to the 2000 year old mark through necromancy. Though it is rare for an ordinary Dunmer to actually make it that far.

"I think Straw will be a very old man before "some day" comes, Berry. Elves live a very long time." Katisha's face briefly wore the wistful look humans got when contemplating the thousand year life span that elves were entitled to by nature. True, few ever actually lived that long, as disease and violence took a toll, but they could.

Still, a lot of the Dunmer in present-day Skyrim are beyond old when compared to humans. Some of them living in Windhelm talk about being present when Red Mountain erupted (200 years ago). Avrusa Sarethi on her farm in the Rift says that she owned a shop in Vivec City before the Ministry of Truth fell to the ground, crushing the city and causing the mountain to erupt.

I've also read that Altmer, being the most highly-bred elves, have an even longer lifespan than their Dunmer cousins, though I've never found any information on exactly how long that might be. It really puts your characters into perspective doesn't it?

As for cross-breeding, The Real Barenziah, if you haven't read it already, talks all about that too - specifically the tragic results of a particularly damaging fling with, of all people, Tiber Septim.