Memoirs of the Abyss is an in-development modification for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, adding the Argonian courier Jeru-Sii into Skyrim alongside a new questline. Inspired by community favourites such as Inigo and Lucien, Jeru-Sii's tale will feature strong writing, quality voice acting and free-form quest design drawn from Obsidian Entertainment titles and Divinity: Original Sin II. Early testing screenshots are available here.
With this being my first serious mod, I aim to deliver the following features to players;
Please note that the current list of available roles is not final, and additional roles will be added over time as new characters are written and created. Furthermore, the artwork is not mine or part of the project - the images are being used simply to convey the planned appearance of the character and to give voice actors a visual idea of what sort of character they are.
-- Audition Requirements --
> Please ensure that your mic is of at least decent quality. Use of a pop filter will be viewed very favourably. Minimal background noise and clear clarity are great!
> Please do not place music in your audition. Doing so will result in your audition being declined.
> Delivery and realistic expression of emotion will be very highly valued.
> Provided they are able to meet all other listed requirements, voice acting beginners and novices are welcome! New to voice acting or want some advice? Check out CDawgVA's video here for some pointers.
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Decentius Berne is a the Dunmer manager of the Ohrame Bathhouse in Silgrad, Morrowind, and a key character in Memoirs of the Abyss' first quest. He exhibits a cruel disregard for the troubles of any who have little impact on his own affairs. Whilst generally quite a racist man, he is especially xenophobic towards the Argonians of Black Marsh, whom he holds a hearty dose of disgust for following their invasion of south Morrowind in 4E 5.
As a middle-aged noble and a native of southwest Morrowind, his voice sound like the other Dunmer featured in either mainland Skyrim (almost Cockey-esque with deep vocal tones) or Solstheim (received pronunciation, with intellectual, 'mightier-than-thou' inflection). If you wish, you may put your own spin on his voice - a bit of creativity is never unwelcome!
"The times move fast in a city like Silgrad. I suppose much like the thermometer's mercury every time the bloody sun slips just above or below the horizon. You haven't got the lovely humidity of Vvardenfell or west Hammerfell over there, oh no. Not in that cat-infested oven."
(This line should be delivered with disdain - Decentius holds contempt for the city in which he lives and the other races who share it. He's already in an ill-tempered mood, and being asked to talk about Silgrad isn't doing wonders to improve that. Despite this, he's still a man on business, and won't reduce himself to shouting or excessive cursing. )
"I'm not here to chinwag, s'wit. If you shan't help the victim, then you're on the side of the criminal. Leave me, lest I have my men remove you by hand."
(This line is aggressive and barely restrained - Decentius feels insulted and is rapidly losing his patience. He wants the problem - the player - out of his sight ASAP, preferably before he suffers an enraged outburst. When mentioning his men removing the player, he should sound serious and threatening.)
"You're reliable, and that's a very positive quality. I mean that. I apologise for giving you so much trouble at the onset, but you can understand how frustrating my position was. But now, thanks to you, justice has been served, and that filthy fetcher can't be a menace to society any longer. As promised, three-score drakes to line your pockets - and there'll be plenty more than just coin to reward you once we work out where he stashed my property."
(In this line, the player has aided Decentius in a timely and efficient manner, showing him they're a positive asset. He feels remorse for how he was outwardly cold upon their first meeting, and now sees them as a friendly acquaintance who he would like continued aid from. Nonetheless, he still maintains a tone of being official and in-control, being a businessman above all else.)
Saru'Ka is a Suthay Khajiit woman. She's a key figure in the first quest, sly and full of confidence, but also terribly blunt.
Her voice should be typical of a female Khajiit. For tips on that, try rolling your 'r' sounds and giving producing gravelly 'pure' with the back of your throat as you speak.
"She has never been one for theatrics. Get in, grab the gleaming baubles, get out before the manor lord's wife screams about how the filthy cat is moulting on her lovely carpet..."
(This line should be humble, as if she's just been complimented. As she mentions the manor lord's wife, she should have a light tone, perhaps with a chuckle, as if reliving that scene as a humourous memory.)
"This one cannot promise that - at least, not yet. But she is not unreasonable, and after all, making deals is half her job..."
(Here, Saru'Ka is denying a player's request, but slyly suggesting that there's a mutually beneficial arrangement that can be made. She wants to intrigue the player and make them feel they can still get their way if they humour her.)
"Mm. That's him. Albino scales, sweet blue eyes, and the ego of three hundred self-absorbed roosters, to boot. Can't miss him. But Saru'Ka assures you, for all his prancing and posturing, the man has a golden heart."
(In this line, Saru'Ka is showing the player a sketch of a friend. Her words are affectionate and nostalgic in tone, implying she misses him.)
Bysilth is a young Dunmer adventurer with no quest role, appearing as a random encounter in the world. Depending on player actions and choices, he may appear several times throughout the world as a recurring encounter, each time with a different scenario and dialogue.
"Fear me, adventurer! For I... am Bysilth! Nightblade! Of the... the Lost Winds!"
(This line should be delivered powerfully and loudly, as Bysilth is shouting across a bridge at someone in the middle of the wilderness. Additionally, he starts confident and full of bravado, using dramatic pauses to make himself sound wondrous, but that falls apart once he reaches "Nightblade". After that, he sounds unsure of himself, as if he's making all of this up on the fly and isn't quite adept at improvisation.)
"Y-you... you what? That's not- I mean, that's hardly...! Sweet Nerevar.... I feel... faint."
(In this line, Bysilth has been threatened with something truly horrifying, and he feels deeply disturbed and overwhelmed with fear. He should be stuttering, utterly speechless. With the last sentence, he ought to have a weak voice, as if he is truly about to pass out.)
"I've learned from my mistakes. This time, you shan't best me, for I have summoned forth a friend from the deepest depths of the darkest skies - behold her splendour! ... pretty, isn't she?"
(This line is similar to the first one in that he should sound bold, cocky and overconfident. With "... pretty, isn't she?", he should suddenly switch to a proud, almost child-like 'look how cool what I have is' tone.)
Dar'Eilun is an Alfiq Khajiit agent. His voice should be similar to a regular khajiit, but with a generally higher pitch or lighter voice than usual due to his small size.
"Cityfolk know full well that the walls have ears, but the last thing they expect to eavesdrop is the housecat lounging on their windowsill."
(Dar'Eilun should deliver this line with a cheeky, 'I often outsmart people' tone. He's taking pride in his natural ability to blend in and how it benefits him.)
"Yeees... creamy, melt-in-the-mouth spadetail... a good trade, is it not? A fish for a secret? Can you give me a better use for them?"
(He should sound dreamlike and obsessive when speaking about spadetail, and then persuasive afterwards, trying to convince the player to give their fish to him.)
"Perhaps this one knows a lot more about the Imperial than she'd like. Whatever would the Imperial do then? Regardless, she'll need to catch him first..."
(This one should come across as sly - he's teasing the player in an unfriendly manner after they've threatened or been rude to him.)
Ogles-Bright-Trinkets is a young adult Argonian, working as a professional footpad. He plays a central role in the first quest. His personality is rather self-absorbed and charming for an Argonian - he's good at what he does, and he knows it. Equally, such bravado is his downfall, and he often doesn't see the limits of his skills until it's too late. Ogles is also the perfect example of a metaphorical stick in the mud ideologically, and is quite possibly the most stubborn and close-minded man to have stepped foot in Silgrad.
His voice should take on the style of a male Argonian from Morrowind/Oblivion (speaking slowly with a deep, raspy voice and elongated vowels) or Skyrim (akin to a usual human voice, but with less variation in tone/pitch as they speak, and with a subtle, guttural 'softness' ).
"Honestly, I just think they were jealous of my dashing good looks. All they've been doing this last hour is trying to take them away from me, bring me closer to their own level!"
(This line should be delivered in a cheeky and snarky tone, but also strained, as though he's enduring some fairly moderate dull pain. He's in a bad situation, but is staying lighthearted and making fun of those who have been harming him.)
"I never intended for him to get caught up in all this... nastiness. Especially not an eggbrother. It wouldn't have even been an issue had I been more careful... So, even though it's not much, could you please make sure he has this? He'll know what it means."
(In this line, Ogles is apologetic and sympathetic. He's trying to make reparations for an error.)
"Yeah? Imagine one with the frame of a hulking giant, the strength to crack open kwama eggs with bare hands, and a borderline obsessive penchant for old-world artifacts. Once you can picture that, you'll be one step closer to picturing Dazur."
(Here, Ogles is describing an intimidating figure who he finds disconcerting to think about. He's really trying to sell to the player how dangerous this 'Dazur' character is in a dramatic fashion,)
Oco is an important recurring character throughout the questline. An older Argonian man in the direct service a royal court, he has a bizarre temperament for his species - loud, boisterous, cheerful and hearty. After spending fourteen years working alongside Nord family, he's gotten hooked on that taste of the culture - the mead and brawls, but also the history and traditions. However, in his older age, his body is beginning to fail him. Though he insists on holding off retirement, he's certainly not as spry as he used to be, but he doesn't let that stop him from leaping into a good fight when he can find one!
His voice should be quite expressive and powerful, but also cheerful and friendly.
"Look, son... I'm not gonna sit here and tell you need to love him 'because he's your father'. Because, let's be frank, he's been an utter bastard to you. But I've known you since you just a tiny skink in the hatching pool, and I know, with every ounce of my belief, that you're not going to end up like that man. You are always going to be you, and no bad blood in your veins is going to ruin that."
(In this line, Oco is consoling a young man who he's known all of their life, and who has come to see him as a replacement father figure in place of an actual parent. Oco is fond of him, and so is being kind and soft-spoken in a tender moment, encouraging him.)
"But that... no, that doesn't make sense. Iruli was the equivalent of a duke, not some... you know, some conquering warlord. He didn't need a huge fortress like that. Why build it if he wasn't going to war?"
(In this line, Oco is trying to piece together clues with a group of people, and is challenging someone else's suggestion/interpretation of the facts. He, along with the others, are attempting to narrow down the possible explanations, and work out something vital to their goals - a lot is on the line, and Oco is really focusing on logic here.)
"Hahahahaha...! Oh, Hist, I haven't had this much fun in yeaaaars!"
(This is a mid-combat line. Oco is facing a particularly dangerous situation against many tough opponents, but he's reveling in every second of it. He should sound cheerful and like he's having a fantastic time.)
Deeply enigmatic and consistently grinning, Galiad of Ytr is a cheerful trader who roams Tamriel. Despite having met the player only recently, he/she treats them as an old friend. His/her wares often include powerful potions, alchemical reagents, rare enchanted accessories and informative books. However, perhaps most interesting is the unique properties of what he/she sells - you never know quite what you're truly getting when you buy from Galiad. They will be definitely male or female in-game, but it's undecided as of yet - the decision will be made based on the chosen VA.
"Do you wish to make a purchase? Many fine trinkets and oddities await you..."
(This line should be delivered with friendliness, but also an air of mystery and intrigue. Galiad is offering his/her services as a trader to the player.)
"Ahh... the weaver, the dancer, always in step, but... never at peace with the tempo. She falls in line where she will, but cries out for something else, something... exotic. Don't you agree?"
(Another mysterious line - imagine a fortune teller giving a reading to a customer. Galiad is speaking in an almost poetic tone.)
"The steel slices.... rends... destroys. Believe me, you wouldn't wish that upon her... friend."
(Here, Galiad is responding to a threat, but his/her tone holds no fear. Instead, he/she speaks sweetly and kindly on "believe me" onwards. On the sentence "The steel slices...", speaks as if dramatically narrating the destructive nature of a weapon - an excellent example of that narrating style is the voice of the Narrator from Darkest Dungeon, of whom clips can be heard here; https://youtu.be/7RNVIejm7zA).
Naakhu is a Khajiit informant from Hammerfell, and a key recurring character throughout the questline. He's rather serious and business-minded for a khajiit, and generally-speaking is rather cold, even to his colleagues.
"Naakhu saw a girl take a tumble down a hill like this, once. Tripped on the root. We knew she wasn't getting up again after the crunch. Not to give you cause to worry, ahziss trevan."
(This line is delivered fairly coldly considering Naakhu is describing someone's death in a similar situation to the player's one, and he's not doing a very good job of making it sound anything but concerning. On the "Not to give you cause" sentence, his tone switches to a friendly one, but it sounds somewhat fake, as if he's not truly apologetic about worrying them.)
"It's foolish! Look at you! It'll be a miracle if you can even sign the forms! And if you must purge your innards, you will do it out in the cold! ... can you even hear me?! Dras'kay?!"
(Here, Naaku is angrily confronting an ally for becoming inebriated. 'Dras'kay' is Ta'agra for "Hello", and so should be delivered in a sort of "Hello?! Are you listening?!" tone.")
"Urrghh... ask her to add some sugar to these next time..."
(In this line, Naaku is imbibing a foul-tasting potion. He should sound clearly like he finds it disgusting and is struggling greatly to swallow it.)
These mercenaries appear throughout the questline. They are not one specific character, but generated, leveled NPCs, and so may share one voice across characters and use the same lines. Both a male actor and female actress are required for each species, so two VAs will be chosen for each Mercenary role.
Please begin the audition with a compilation of various combat grunts - imagine your character ducking/dodging, swinging a weapon, fighting for their life. About 10 - 20 seconds of these 'exertion' clips are ideal.
"Mhm. They call it a 'torn veil', I think.... it's what happens when the ascellia get too close. And, well, it's what, erm... It's how we lost Slanid last night."
(Here, the mercenary is making idle chat with a friend. The topic is on something unpleasant, and while describing it to their friend, they sound somewhat troubled by what they're talking about - it's killed a mutual colleague, and this mercenary is the one breaking the news of that to the friend, too.)
"You're going to regret ever even hearing about that idol, friend..."
(This is an aggressive 'taunting' line used in combat. It should sound confident and threatening. A bit of heavy breathing would be great too, as it'll help sell the physical burden of fighting.)
These mercenaries appear throughout the questline. They are not one specific character, but generated, leveled NPCs, and so may share one voice across characters and use the same lines. Both a male actor and female actress are required for each species, so two VAs will be chosen for each Mercenary role.
Please begin the audition with a compilation of various combat grunts - imagine your character ducking/dodging, swinging a weapon, fighting for their life. About 10 - 20 seconds of these 'exertion' clips are ideal.
"You, uh... you mean it? That's quite a lot of money, but... you know what? I think that'll be more than worth it..."
(The mercenary is being tricked with seduction, but is gullible and is buying every word of it. They should sound a little sheepish and unsure at first, but then become seductive themselves after agreeing to hand over money.)
"Last warning! Come out in the open now or we'll release the hounds!"
(This line should be shouted - the mercenary is yelling in a huge cave towards someone who they don't know the exact location of. It should sound serious and threatening.)
These mercenaries appear throughout the questline. They are not one specific character, but generated, leveled NPCs, and so may share one voice across characters and use the same lines. Both a male actor and female actress are required for each species, so two VAs will be chosen for each Mercenary role.
Please begin the audition with a compilation of various combat grunts - imagine your character ducking/dodging, swinging a weapon, fighting for their life. About 10 - 20 seconds of these 'exertion' clips are ideal.
"She wouldn't say, the craftsmanship is fantastic, I- I've never seen such a gorgeous bow, you know? Almost looks like Telvanni mushroom bark, but obviously you and I both know better than that."
(The mercenary has been complimented by a friend on their very fancy bow, something they are personally very proud of owning, and have been asked about who sold it to them. His pride carries into his voice, and the entire tone of the line is very conversational.)
"I've seen slave cattle fight better than you, n'wah! Who are you trying to impress?!"
(This is an aggressive, 'taunting' combat line. It should sound jeering and deeply unfriendly, as well as loud - they're fighting who they're taunting, after all!)
Free composition work is not something many folks will do for good reason, but if you are nonetheless interested in providing a selection of tracks for use within the questline and dungeons, then I'd love to hear some of your work!
Say something you think would fit
