Heart of Ice: Orpheus, Craftian’s Masterpiece Follower for Skyrim

When it comes to Skyrim, the modding community has created an endless array of enhancements to breathe new life into the game. From city overhauls to revolutionary graphics and fresh questlines, mods expand the world of Skyrim and sometimes push beyond its boundaries. Among the most sought-after mods are custom followers, captivating players with their unique personalities and abilities. Whether it's a simple archer voiced by vanilla assets or a complex character built from the ground up, an intriguing follower mod never fails to capture the hearts of Skyrim enthusiasts.

This Fox has a particular fondness for various types of modded followers across her playthroughs. She craves companions with custom voices and abundant dialogue, characters who offer commentary on the world around them and aren't afraid to challenge the player's choices. The ideal follower, in her eyes, possesses a strong moral code and the courage to leave or even confront the player should their paths diverge. She seeks a companion with their own mind, unapologetic in their convictions.

As a long-standing admirer of Craftian's work, it came as no surprise that Orpheus quickly found a place in her ever-growing modlist upon his release. Craftian describes Orpheus as "an ancient Snow Elf vampire and evil without being 'edgy'. He is not your friend, he is not your drinking buddy, and he is certainly not interested in a relationship. Orpheus is absolutely ruthless and follows you more out of an agreement than fondness." Yet, this description barely scratches the surface of Orpheus's gruff demeanor and cold-hearted nature.

Players first encounter Orpheus inside Haemar's Shame, standing before the statue of Clavicus Vile after dispatching a Vigilant of Stendarr. A brief cutscene unfolds, presenting the player with a choice: side with the ambushing Vigilants intent on avenging their fallen comrade, or align with Orpheus. Choosing to stand with the Vigilants and defeating Orpheus brings the interaction to an abrupt end. Only by siding with the Snow Elf can one gain him as a follower, though his companionship comes with a hefty dose of reluctance. Freshly awakened and unsure of the world around him, Orpheus agrees to follow the player out of necessity rather than desire.

Throughout the vanilla questlines, Orpheus offers his biting commentary, with his most extensive dialogue reserved for the Dawnguard storyline. Players can choose to align with either faction while keeping Orpheus in tow. A thoughtful addition to his character is a book that allows players to toggle between his proficiency in weaponry or magic. This Fox delighted in watching Orpheus embrace the role of a spellsword, effortlessly switching between wielding two-handed weapons and unleashing arcane fury.

Orpheus comes with two personal quests that further flesh out his character, though romance remains firmly off the table. After completing his second personal quest, this Fox found herself grateful for the lack of romantic options. While Orpheus doesn't engage in banter with other NPCs, even vanilla ones, he does offer pointed observations about various characters encountered in the holds.

In the pantheon of custom followers this Fox has experienced over the past two years, Orpheus stands out as the one who broke her heart the most. He embodies evil without apology, pursuing his own agenda with little regard for the player's moral compass. His tragic backstory has molded him into the cold-hearted being he is today, yet beneath the icy exterior, a glimmer of his former self remains. Craftian masterfully balances Orpheus's malevolence with hints of the good Mer he once was, creating a character with untold stories and a shattered heart that may never mend.

Despite his unyielding nature, Orpheus's presence adds a layer of complexity to the player's adventures. His acerbic wit and unflinching honesty create moments of dark humor and poignant reflection. While he may never fully open up, the time spent with Orpheus proves both challenging and rewarding.

As with many mods, Orpheus comes with a few bugs that this Fox encountered during her travels:

- Orpheus sometimes becomes stuck outside the Dawnguard castle and won't follow. This can be fixed by using the console command: set OrphDG to 0

- Orpheus sometimes gets stuck in his vampire lord form. This is fixed by using the console command : setrace OrphRace

- After a while, he loses his pants when in vampire lord form. I've found no real fix to this and simply let the Mer do what he wants.

- When he mounts his horse, he will refuse to come off it. Even once the player has dismounted, Orpheus is clearly better than the rest of the party. Teleporting him tends to fix this issue.

In conclusion, Orpheus stands as one of Craftian's finest creations to date. His wealth of dialogue, uncompromising attitude, and complex character development set him apart from other follower mods. For those willing to persevere through his initial hostility, Orpheus may reveal glimpses of the Mer he once was, adding depth to an already captivating character. Despite the occasional bug, Orpheus earns a perfect 10/10 from this Fox, cementing his place as an unforgettable companion in the vast world of Skyrim.