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Figure 1: Main reference image [1]

Level Abstract: “Honey, We Shrunk the Dovahkiin”

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Version 1.0

Designer: Ryan Winter

Document Date: 11/13/2013

Intended Level Delivery Date: 12/16/2013

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Document Revisions Table

Version Description Requestor Date

0.1 Added in basic info, formatting, and first parts of

level abstract. Prof. Ouellette 11/10/13

0.2 Added visual theme descriptions and references. Prof. Ouellette 11/11/13

0.3 Added Character description and began quest

objectives Prof. Ouellette 11/11/13

0.4 Added level progression chart Prof. Ouellette 11/12/13

1.0 Finish Document Prof. Ouellette 11/12/13

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Table of Contents Table of Contents .......................................................................................... 3

Table of Figures ............................................................................................ 4

Quick Summary [2] ......................................................................................... 5

Hook(s) .................................................................................................... 5

Gameplay Highlights..................................................................................... 5

Setting Summary ......................................................................................... 5

Mission Difficulty ......................................................................................... 5

Mission Metrics ........................................................................................... 6

Characters.............................................................................................. 6

Visual Themes ......................................................................................... 8

Key Theme References .................................................................................. 8

Level Summary ............................................................................................. 11

Campaign ................................................................................................ 11

Context ................................................................................................ 11

Backstory .............................................................................................. 11

Aftermath ............................................................................................. 11

Objective(s) ............................................................................................. 11

Overview Map ........................................................................................... 12

Level Flow ............................................................................................... 14

Flow Summary ........................................................................................ 14

Level Progression Chart ............................................................................. 16

Quest Descriptions ........................................................................................ 17

Main Quest ............................................................................................... 17

Side Quest ............................................................................................... 18

References ................................................................................................. 19

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Table of Figures

Figure 1: Main reference image [1] ...................................................................... 1

Figure 2: Creepy Hidden Cave Reference [3] ........................................................... 8

Figure 3: Calming Indoor House Reference [4] ......................................................... 9

Figure 4: Dollhouse Reference [5] ....................................................................... 9

Figure 5: Player as a small figure reference [6] ....................................................... 9

Figure 6: Cave of the Rat King Reference [7] ......................................................... 10

Figure 7: Backyard Shack Reference [8] ............................................................... 10

Figure 8: Main Cave Map ................................................................................. 12

Figure 9: House Map ...................................................................................... 13

Figure 10: Miniature World Map ......................................................................... 14

Figure 11: Level progression chart ...................................................................... 16

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Level Abstract

Quick Summary [2] “Honey We Shrunk the Dovahkiin” is a quest and level for Skyrim’s single player campaign. It

takes place in a secluded cave in Skyrim’s Rift region, which is a part of the larger continent

Tamriel. The player must explore south of Riften to discover the cause many mysterious

disappearances. The player discovers that a pair of discovers that a pair of murderous

Argonians are looting, shrinking, and killing travelers. The Dovahkiin must navigate his or her

way through a house while battling and avoiding massively new threats.

Hook(s)

The hook of this level is that the player will experience from an entirely new perspective.

Small and unthreatening enemies are now hulking beasts that pose an immediate threat,

while inconsequential pieces of clutter become massive obstacles.

Gameplay Highlights

This level handles Skyrim’s traditional combat mechanics in a new way. The player is tiny; so

many combat encounters feel more like a David and Goliath situation. This level also features

many moments when the player may talk their way out of, or into, a combat situation.

Setting Summary

Theme Treachery, Survival, and Loss

Mood Dark Comedy

Setting Set in the same period as the main Skyrim campaign, in the Rift region, and in a secluded cave on the edge of the map.

Time of Day Dependent on player’s time in Skyrim.

Season Partially dependent on player’s time in Skyrim. Elements of Fall.

Weather Calm, but dark with an uneven breeze in the late Fall.

Mission Difficulty

Position Difficulty Reasons Beginning 3 The beginning of the quest is mostly easy, consisting primarily

of exposition, exploration, one puzzle, and combat with two enemies.

Middle 6 The middle of the quest, while the player is miniature, presents an average difficulty grade of six. The player encounters a few different enemy types, ambushes, navigation puzzles, and some dialogue options. The Rat King side quest provides an interesting difficulty spike if the player desires.

End 8 The end section leads the player through a final tunnel of enemies to the boss battle, the peak of this level’s difficulty. After the boss battle, the player solves a puzzle and goes to the backyard. The remainder of this level is basic exposition, exploration, and reward.

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Scale: 1-10 (1 is Easiest and 10 is Hardest)

Mission Metrics

Play Time 12 minutes

Critical Path

440 feet ( 1 foot = 6 Skyrim Units )

Physical Area

5296 square feet ( 1 foot = 6 Skyrim Units )

Characters

Character Description The Dovahkiin (Player)

The main character’s personality, abilities, and character traits come from outside of the scope of this quest. The Dovahkiin, Nordic for “Dragonborn,” is a vague character, defined by the player’s own personality.

Lleric the Brash A Dark Elf thief with a short temper and a fidgety personality. Lleric recruits the player to determine what is causing all of the disappearances near Riften. His mannerisms and dialogue imply that Lleric is a member of the thieves’ guild. Lleric has little patient for the player, but wants the guild’s issues resolved as quickly as possible.

Tiny Tom Tiny Tom is one of Sinarom and Marna’s previous victims. He lost everything when the two Argonians knocked him out, but managed to escape while they were distracted. Tiny Tom lives in a dollhouse in the main house, hunting rats and spiders to stay alive. Though slightly unhinged, Tom remains a strong and valuable ally in the Dovahkiin’s time of need, giving the player their initial advice to survive.

Sinarom Kir Sinarom Kir is an Argonian trader who retired to start a steady life with his wife Marna. He adored his daughter Seera and his wife Marna. When a traveler killed Seera, something inside Sinarom snapped. Sinarom is somewhat of a bumbling oaf, but he feels the need to avenge his daughter Seera by robbing and killing any outside travelers. However, Sinarom does not have the stomach for violence, so he and his wife drug and shrink any travelers that stumble into their cave. A special poison shrinks the outsiders, allowing the husband and wife to capture and starve any trespassers with ease.

Marna Kir Marna Kir is the slightly stupid, but sweet, wife of Sinarom. Her daughter’s death devastated Marna, leaving her nothing to care for but Sinarom. Though she is always been hesitant of Sinarom’s plans, she follows his lead because she is afraid of losing him.

Seera Kir The daughter of Sinarom and Marna, she was the light of her parent’s life. Seera was a sweet girl who loved playing with her dolls and writing stories about them. Now her spirit lives by her grave, partially aware of her death, but partially oblivious. In her in her coherent moments, Seera wants nothing more than to help her parents stop their treacherous ways.

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The Rat King The rat king is the absolute ruler of all rat kind. Though he has a slight Napoleonic complex, he offers to help the player return to his original size if the player helps the king defeat the spiders. Because he is a talking rat, odd phrases and colloquialisms litter the rat king’s dialogue.

Rat Minions These are the rat minions of the Rat King, which attack the player and any spiders in the world.

House Spiders These are typical house spiders, but they appear huge and hostile when the player is small, attacking the player and rats.

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Visual Themes

Theme Description Creepy Hidden Cave The first region the player reaches, the small cave lets the player

know something is off about the house in the center of this world. The meshes in the space are mostly worn-down structures, dead trees, and other dull colored natural elements.

Calming indoor house

The house seems oddly welcoming and inhabited, but there are no characters inside when the player enters. The interior contains warm colors and objects according to typical Riften housing.

Doll House After the player wakes up, they are in a castle interior, but the interior only contains furniture, except for a campsite in the corner. The interior mimics a dollhouse at full size, little to no clutter, and the only light comes from torches or exterior windows.

Cave of the Rat King This looks like a royal court as conducted by rodents. Thrones and banners populate the hall, but the corners are full of nesting clutter. Large fires light the space and the walls are more dirt and cave-like than most of the other environments.

Backyard Shack The shack in the house’s backyard where Sinarom and Marna store the loot from the bodies of the travelers they kill. The items, clothing, and clutter from many dead travelers fill claustrophobic space. This space is dark and slightly disturbing because of its past. A fireplace used to dispose of the bodies serves as the room’s main light source

Key Theme References

Figure 2: Creepy Hidden Cave Reference [3]

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Figure 3: Calming Indoor House Reference [4]

Figure 4: Dollhouse Reference [5]

Figure 5: Player as a small figure reference [6]

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Figure 6: Cave of the Rat King Reference [7]

Figure 7: Backyard Shack Reference [8]

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Level Summary

Campaign

Context

This level is a substantial side-quest within the Skyrim storyline. Though this quest is

relevant to the thieves’ guild, it is not a direct part of the thieves’ guild sub-quest line. The

quest differs from typical thieves’ guild quests because it is not stealth-centric. This quest

adjusts to the player’s current skills, so this quest is available at any given point in a Skyrim

play through.

Backstory

Sinarom and Marna Kir lived a simple life in their secluded cave with their daughter Seera. As

Argonians, Riften would never see them as equals. One afternoon, they invited a traveler

into their house from the road, fed him, and offered him a bed by their hearth. In the

morning, the traveler was gone and Seera disappeared with him. Sinarom and Marna

searched the entire cave until they found their daughter bloody and lifeless by the stream’s

edge. Their daughter’s death inspired the couple’s devout hatred of all outsiders. For nearly

two months now, the murderous Argonian couple spent nearly two months luring travelers

into their cave

Aftermath

After the player stops Sinarom and Marna, by killing or helping them, they depart the cave,

returning to Lleric. The player may choose to tell Lleric all of what happened in the cave, or

tell him merely that the problem is gone. The player’s reward is dependent on the whether

they killed Sinarom and Marna. If the player killed the Argonians, Seera’s spirit collapses the

cave after the player leaves. If the player let the Argonians live, Sinarom and Marna rebuild

their life in the cave, returning to their life of peaceful conclusion.

Objective(s)

Discover what is behind the disappearances south of Riften.

o Send a message from the thieves’ guild.

Stop Sinarom and Marna.

o Un-shrink yourself and regain your items

o Help the Rat King.

o Help Seera find peace at last.

o Kill Sinarom and Marna.

Return to Lleric and tell him what happened.

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Overview Map

Figure 8: Main Cave Map

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Figure 9: House Map

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Figure 10: Miniature World Map

Level Flow

Flow Summary

1. Player arrives in cave, wanders towards ramp, and encounters combat with wisps.

(Wow moment: Player sees massive waterfall and imposing house at the center of the

cave)

a. Optional combat and story to right if player finds altar to Seera. (Wow

moment: when player sees altar).

2. After fighting wisps on the platform, the player enters the main house.

3. Player shocked by stark contrast between house interior and exterior, forced to

explore for answers to quest.

4. On the second floor, the player enters a foggy and mysterious room to read a book on

the counter (Wow moment: eerie, but peaceful, smoke and visuals make the player

uneasy).

5. After the player wakes up, they emerge into a room where everything is massive and

fight a few spiders. (Wow moment: The massive scope and irregularity throw the

player off guard).

6. The Player encounters a final battle between a group of spiders and rats. (Wow

moment: the battle translates an epic struggle to a miniature scale).

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a. To the bottom right, near “D,” is the side quest where the player encounters

the Rat King.

7. The player escapes the closed off room, but comes face to face with his massive

captors, forcing the player to bargain or fight. (Wow moment: facing these massive

enemies is far more intimidating than challenging).

8. After encountering the Argonians and returning to a normal size, the player discovers a

hidden door to the backyard.

9. The player explores the small backyard shack to regain their gear and reveal further

story.

10. The player finds Seera’s grave and speaks with her spirit. (Wow moment: Visually

stunning grave also contains a regenerating potion that shrinks the player whenever

they choose).

The player then leaves the cave and completes the quest.

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Level Progression Chart

Figure 11: Level progression chart

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Quest Descriptions

Main Quest

1) Player finds a bounty flier on a post by Riverwood Bridge

a. exposition, main character

2) Player finds Lleric the Brash in Riften and receives quest. They must go discover

what’s been causing the disappearances south of Riften

a. dramatic premise/situation

3) Player travels to area in road where witnesses saw the last victim before they

disappeared

4) The player finds a teddy bear in the middle of the road

a. Inciting incident

5) Player finds a cave entrance at the end of the blood trail

6) Player enters Creepy Hidden Cave and sees house on cliff, stream, waterfall, and

a. Dramatic situation, plot point

7) Player heads up path towards house and encounters two wisps

a. Player may head to the right, over the stream, to find Seera’s altar and fight a

wisp

i. Foreshadowing, obstacle

8) Player reaches first landing and encounters another wisp

a. Obstacle

9) Player reaches locked door and may find key hidden nearby or lock pick.

a. Obstacle, puzzle

10) Player enters house and may explore, looking for people, but house is abandoned

a. Plot point

b. Player may find journal in kitchen which furthers plot

i. Exposition, foreshadowing

11) Player enters smoky room on second floor with altar. Sinarom and Marna knock

him/her out and talk over the body.

a. Plot point, exposition, midpoint

12) Player wakes up in Dollhouse and talks to Tiny Tom. Tiny Tom gives player unique

weapon for quest (Giant Poker).

a. Exposition, Plot point, dramatic situation

13) Player exits dollhouse and fights some spiders

a. obstacle

14) Player moves to next table and fights some rats

a. Obstacle

b. Side quest branches from here

15) Player encounters major battle between spiders and rats

a. Plot point, obstacle

16) Player goes through tunnel to room where they fainted

17) Player encounters massive Sinarom and Marna, dialogue ensues

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a. Exposition, plot point

18) Player fights or convinces two Argonians to change their ways

a. Climax, plot point, obstacle

19) Player gets potion to make them big again

20) Player leaves house through secret door

21) Player searches shack to reacquire gear

a. Plot point, denouement

22) Player goes to Seera’s grave and talks to ghost

a. Exposition, Plot point, denouement

23) Player leaves area and returns to Lleric the Brash

24) Player talks to Lleric the Brash to finish the quest

a. Exposition, denouement

Side Quest

S1) Player talks to Tiny Tom and hears about Rat King

S2) Player branches off of main quest path towards upper corner of room

S3) Player fights two waves of spiders

S4) Player enters rat king’s cave

S5) Player talks to rat king

a. Options

i. Kill rat king for loot

ii. Help rat king for final battle aid

S6) If the player agrees, they must battle A massive spider outside the cave

S7) The player talks to the rat king again

S8) The player has rat helpers when battling Sinarom and Marna as a part of the main

quest

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References [1] http://cinemasights.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/secretworldofarrietty-kitchen.jpg

[2] Elements of the quest are loosely referential to the movie Honey, I Shrunk the Kids:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey,_I_Shrunk_the_Kids

[3] http://www.popmatters.com/images/blog_art/c/cabins7.jpg

[4] http://www.gnd-tech.com/image/i/LG27k.jpg

[5] http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-

c39cUf58bKI/TgTM5m1sN0I/AAAAAAAACJU/_B6HwruXHKA/s1600/cheesepicreefer+001.jpg

[6]

http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/mt/assets/culture_test/arrietty%20buckwalter%20cat%206

15%20disney.jpg

[7] http://wiki-images.enotes.com/thumb/4/4a/TheSecretofNIMHscreen.jpg/300px-

TheSecretofNIMHscreen.jpg

[8]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/Messy_storage_room_with_boxes.jpg