Why won’t Aela the Huntress stop following me?
Aela the Huntress is a popular character in the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, known for her striking appearance and loyal followership. However, there are some instances where you might find her constantly sticking to your side, ignoring your requests to move away. This article will cover the reasons behind this issue and provide you with various solutions to get her out of your hair.
Why does Aela remain attached to me?
Before we dive into the solutions, it’s essential to understand why Aela might be stuck to you in the first place. Aela, like most follower characters in Skyrim, follows you because she is affected by your bounty. If you have a bounty on your head in any of the Holds (rural towns or city-guards), Aela (and other Companions) will follow you tirelessly until the bounty is lifted.
How can I get rid of the bounty?
To resolve this issue, you can choose one of the following options:
• Remove bounties in other towns: If you’ve done something naughty in one town, go back and lift the bounty. Checking your bounty status at each Hold’s crime section will help you identify any unpaid bounties. You can also view a list of all outstanding bounties in Skyrim.
• Wait it out: Sometimes, a little patience can work in your favor. Some bounties expire automatically, so just wait it out and see if Aela loses interest.
• Use mods: For console players, there is no option to modify this behavior using console commands, whereas PC players can employ modding techniques to achieve desired outcomes.
Beyond Bounties: More Possibilities
Even if your bounties are resolved, Aela might still hang around. There could be other reasons why she insists on staying close to your side:
• Completed quests: If Aela has a personal storyline (e.g., Battle for Whiterun‘s ‘ The Cursed Tribe’, etc.), she might want to stick around to participate or offer support.
• Followership obligations: As a Companion member, Aela might see your questing activities as their duty, and refusing your requests could lead to trouble within the faction.
To address these issues:
Solution 1: Engage her in other conversations
- Initiate conversations with Aela and other followers; focus on topics other than completing quests. This helps bond with them on a social level.
- Get to know Aela outside of questlines, using her default topics like food, drinks, travel, or family to create a connection.
• Listen to and accept her suggestions if they offer alternative ways to manage the situation.
Solution 2: Assign them to rest or attend specific locations
- Using the console command "-stopfollower" can also work. Although some players find this invasive or exploit-y, try it in safe, experimentation-friendly areas** (for PC players only).
Additionally, you can designate a location to store your follower (use keyboard shortcuts like "Home") or assign them sleep or work routines.
• Give your character a temporary break from leading to see if she loses interest.
Ultimate Solution: Utilize mods (optional)
For console players with restrictions, or for anyone uncomfortable with the above steps:
• Download follower- related mods; you can adjust follower AI parameters, including those of Aela.
• Patchwork mods, however, may interact with vanilla features and could introduce instability in your game.
Conclusion: Understanding the Causes Behind Aela’s Loyal Following
By analyzing your bounty status, conversations with Aela, and questline completions, we can better grasp the motivation behind her constant follow behavior. To alleviate the annoyance, consider using bounty solutions, engaging Aela in social conversations, designating specific tasks, and taking advantage of mods if preferred. Remember to use judgment when applying console commands as a solution.
Happy exploration, and may Aela’s hunting skills remain just one of many skills at her disposal, not hers by default!