My name is Legaldir, son of Faradir. I'm an Altmer war captain sent by the Psijic Order of Summerset Isle to resolve the ongoing conflict involving the Imperials, and whatnot to unite all races in Skyrim together in a final stand against the World-Eater, a dragon named Alduin.

As I continued my quest walking on Nords land, I was being named the very person I was searching for, the Psijic Order was searching for; Dragonborn. But our race do not crave for such effortless honor, the reason why I decided to join the Companions who were located in Whiterun, where honorable warriors of different races fight as one. My housecarl, Lydia, who was assigned to me by Jarl Balgruuf of Whiterun himself, supported my idea, my mission, probably even more than the entire Companions themselves.

I trusted her with my life, and I trusted myself for her life.

Kodlak Whitemane, Harbringer of the Companions sent me on another quest. We were to slay the witches of Glenmoril in their very own dungeon. I talked to Lydia about this dangerous task, knowing how Nords aren't as capable as we Altmers when it comes to dealing opponents who wield magic. She was stubborn of course, not letting me take the fight to them witches alone, I had no other choice but to bring a Nord I came to love with me.

If only I could turn back time.

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MY arrow pierced through the last of the witches, with Lydia standing over it, witch's blood dripping from the edge of the Elven mace I crafted for her. She turned to me with a slight chuckle, then leading me out of that very cave, throwing at me a bottle of Nord mead in celebration of another quest we succeeded with the help of one another.

We walked the road leading us back to Whiterun, talking about our battles against the Glenmoril witches which suprisingly proved to be just puny weaklings who couldn't even lay a scar on our armors. It was all smiles, all subtle chuckles before something, or someone, took my vision and lay a deafening race to Altmer blood.

It was them, the Thalmor, walking towards us with what we call the 'Altmer look' staring dead straight into the faces of me and my future soulmate. There were three of them, and I know this won't end up good if they knew who I was. They began to ramble about Gods, about Talos, neither of which I actually cared about. Like any Altmer would, I told them off. Even if I were to end up worshipping anyone, I do it to whoever I please.

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LYDIA tried to drag the other two Thalmor soldiers away from me while I kept my balance dodging bolts after bolts of lightning their presumably captain threw at me. Feeding him my dwarven arrows while at it. He was a good opponent until he yielded before me, such disgrace to the Altmer, I ended his life with another arrow to his heel.

I heard her screams, already kneeling to the ground in her desperate defence against the last Thalmor warrior whose strikes was very well deflected by her shield. I started running towards her, unsheathing my Elven blade, before I realised the other warrior already got back up on his feet, closing his distance to join his fellow Altmer in finishing Lydia for good.

I had no other choice, but to disgrace an Altmer's honor to save my beloved. I let my knowledge of the Thu'um sink into my mind once again, keeping both feet on the ground while I let this devastating shout out.

FUS-RO-DAH!

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I laid her body beside the river, under a shelter with a nearby Nirnroot plant laying peace onto her weary face. I placed her helm right beside her, in honor of her passion while it lasted. I should have known better than to blatantly use my untrained Thu'um in a desperate attempt to save her.

No, I should hold the Thalmor responsible for her death. I should hold the Greybeards responsible for accelerating my mastery of the Unrelenting Force without proper guidance on how to control it.

I promise you this, Lydia. When my mission is fulfilled, I will strike into the hearts of the Thalmor when I return to my lands. And before that,

I will lay waste to this rumored dragon who first taught the way of the voice to Humans and Mer alike.

Sad story... I like how your character is very flawed - very human (he blames her death on others, which is a very human trait).

This is why PC gamers have console commands:

Prid "Lydia"

Resurrect.

Hell yeah.

My last and final attempt of rescuing Lydia, occurred just recently. Tho she had accidently pushed me off a cliff.
she had slayed a dragon with me.
Gone thru a cave full of falmor with me.
but she could not, and would not stand against an elder dragon. Tho I sought to protect her, and armed her with her favored heavy armor with sword in legendary, and her bow in same.
She died valiantly. It was alas not to be.
She does weird stuff. My condolences.

Me and Lydia were clearing out a cave of necromancers and they killed her. Then the necromancers raised up her dead body to fight me!

Don't go with Lydia until the gods themselves ((Bethesda programmers and whatever politics they fall under)) fix the world so it isn't iffy. For currently in almost all variations of possibilities throughout the infinate universe controlled through the single elder scroll disguised as a journal in your inventory, Lydia is and shall remain the weakest housecarl. If you want to keep the beauty, traverse to Solitude and impress Jarl Elisf so you can buy a very expensive home. Impress the people and recieve Jordis the Sword Maiden, she is much stronger than Lydia. Yet the best companion so far other than the Orc in the stronghold that starts with a D, Dushnk Yol, is the Housecarl in Markarth.

Fare thee well Valiant Lydia, I hope you shall not be a clutzy ditz in the afterlife.

Lifts a glass of Cyrodiilc Brandy. "To Lydia: a Brave warrior, and a true friend."

Eh, I like Lydia's looks better than any of the other housecarls. Maybe I'm just a svcker for Brunettes and other dark-haired ladies.

Does Jordis favor Heavy or LIght armor?
Was thinking about her as following me for the next quest.
But I really hate losing followers and not equipping them correctly.

Good story. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Technically, Lydia should only be weak if you get her at a low level. Followers have their stats locked to the level you recruit them at. So, if you recruit Lydia at level 8, she'll get smacked around by a Jordis you recruited at level 58.

Other than that, skills are taken into effect. Such as weapon or armor proficiency. J'zargo is generally viewed as the best because he's a mage that has VERY high One-Handed and Heavy Armor, so he has incredible melee while being one of the few followers with magic.

So, most of the Housecarls are all equally powerful, if they are the same level.

OT: Awesome story, and ever more awesome that you didn't just reload. I, personally, haven't had any of my followers die (I usually activate traps before they do, and they avoid traps I avoid), so I can't say I've had a similar situation.

"If only you weren't a dirty gold-skin and had the guts to fight toe-to-toe, like a TRUE Son of Skyrim."

Heavy. She's similar to Lydia.

Yeah it's true that followers are locked to the level when you recruit them. I'm sure this will be fixed soon.


Now that's the worst nightmare I could ever think of, presenting my emotional attachment to my character and his to Lydia.

Just moments ago, with Bon Jovi's "Always" playing, at that very part: "It's been raining since you left me, now I'm drowning in the flood." Kinda forced me to equip a mage hood on Legaldir so I won't get to see Legaldir's golden Altmer tears dripping off his chin, especially when it's actually raining here in Skyrim.

Yeah call me crazy, but I'm getting too attached to my character.

naw that song always gets me. It actually played when I did the final moment of the MQ in OB. There was Martin, GONE.
and that song was playing.
I get attached too. That's why I was Hi jacking this thread. I figured the OP went off and did something though, so wasn't feeling Too bad.
Sigh. And I'm a girl! I locked up volstad? from Markarth in my house so he can't ever get hurt. I think he's lonely and without adventure.
thinking of locking up all my followers. I'm tired of getting attached and them just dying on me.
Too emotional? You bet I am. And I blame Bethesda. LOL

HOW TERRIBLE!

I actually find Mjol the lioness to be a better companion.. and she can't die. God's know how many times I'd try to off her for showing up in my home only to see her best friend hanging there. I believe the followers scale to the level that you find or hire them at as well. so if you had lydia at level 10, she'd remain at level ten. Or something like that.

Lydia just runs off randomly.

Cheers

I just can't feel that same attachment to other followers as compared to Lydia, don't ask me why, it's a philosiraptor thing. :B

And yeah I recently finished the Companions quest and getting Ria to be my next partner, I sense her burning desire to fight beside me in the future.

Yep I was forced to kill my own friend...I kinda hated that b*tch anyways though so its kinda ok but it was VERY f*cked up that they forced me to fight my own comrade........THOSE MONSTERS!!!

Ever heard of *saving* the game? Especially important for console players...

Roleplay my friend, everyone except for my character is considered DiD to me.

Lol, I like how you expres your love the Brunettes and dark hairs ladies

You make some of the most borderline useless posts I've ever seen. Trying to boost your post count, much?

R.I.P Lydia

nice read on the op's story.

lydia during my first playthru was awesome. Second time around not sure what happened honestly was sometime right after 1.2 lydias combat skills and ai took a nose dive.

her txt replies fit her appearance design perfectly. There are some other npc followers with the same voice and same replies and soesnt quite fit imo to thier appearance design. Wierd i know i guess thats just me when playing skyrim.

i just wish the mara amulet option was a bigger landmass to choose from (Lisette, Illiana, Eola, Vex, Saphire) If a follower or mara companion - the NPC should be able to adventure with you reguardless.

Also divorse needs to be an option in game. Along with the ripple edfects that go along with divorse. So if muiri hired DB to kill her former BF then id expect her to hire some thugs to come after me as well. Leading to a quest that eventually leads us to be neutral again.

im in xbox so i dont have the options that pc users have.

Good read there.