well shit. Went home over noon hour and played just a little bit. the one quest i decided to do led me to clear a cave/shrine out. not a big deal. a few draugrs and it was clean. Then the lady says we need a sacrifice or some shit and leads me to a priest in Markarth who I'm supposed to get to follow me to the shrine where he will be killed. What do i do? I find myself an elder dragon immediately to see if this guy will follow me anywhere and to see if he can die.
That dragon was absolutely crushed
So now it looks like i can have a party consisting of
Me
The annoying stray dog
My follower (Belrand)
His familiar wolf that he summons
My flame atronarch
and Verulus the new priest (mage)
Nobody even gives a shit about me when i enter a room. Even if they do i focus on them first then i pick off the rest easily after that. It's not the easiest to get around, and i have to make sure i don't accidentally finish the quest to lose one, but it looks like i have a practically immortal party.
so much for dumping my follower and the dog