Since the corpses of all the wild animals I kill seem to exist in the world forever, I can't help wonder if there is limited supply of these creatures. If not, how long before new ones are created? And will the dead animal bodies ever decompose?
Finite amount of foxes/wolves/horkers, etc.
the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim
Related Solutions
There are some generic NPCs that you gain by completing quests, such as the Dark Brotherhood Initiate that may respawn, assuming you can somehow kill them in the first place.
It seems that those initiates are immortal, according to the wiki.
So no, you can't run out of followers.
How to fix (2013 update)
I've tried the bugged saved game file I initially posted in my question with the current latest versions of the official patch, Unofficial Skyrim Patch (USKP) and Skyrim Script Extender (SKSE), and the saved game is now Aspect of Peryite-free.
I've configured SKSE to use its ClearInvalidRegistrations console command on every saved game load, which removes invalid scripts left running by uninstalled mods. This feature was introduced in v1.6.7 of SKSE:
add console command
ClearInvalidRegistrationsto remove invalid OnUpdate() registrationsThis prevents orphaned OnUpdate() events and the resulting bloated/broken saves when removing certain mods. When applied to an already bloated save, it will stop growing further and instead shrink over time as the game processes all queued events. This may take hours depending on the amount of bloat.
To execute automatically after each reload, add this to
\Data\SKSE\skse.ini:
[General]
ClearInvalidRegistrations=1
According* to a developer of the Unofficial Skyrim Patch (USKP), the underlying cause is because DA13 ('The Only Cure' quest) is never stopped.
A possible fix* for this:
In the meantime, load an affected save, then type
stopquest DA13into the console. That ought to put an end to that. Plus it’ll free up some unnecessarily leftover alias memory.BTW, don’t use the console command on a save not bothered by it. Even though it may appear benign, console commands can have negative consequences you don’t know about.
If this doesn't work or if you experience issues like: NPCs not responding properly to conversation (not reply to you when you choose a certain conversation path - leaving you stuck), merchants not opening the buy/sell window, horses that can't be ridden, and other interaction issues, then the save game is most likely corrupted. Try the SKSE ClearInvalidRegistrations console command fix I've posted above, instead.
To prevent this from happening in the PC, get the latest version of the Unofficial Skyrim Patch. This has been fixed since version 1.1 of the USKP:
"The Only Cure" (DA13) was never stopped which would lead to the Aspect of Peryite randomly initiating conversation and being unable to exit.
* This info is from the old USKP bug tracker page at 16bugs.com, which is now not viewable. The new USKP bug tracker report page of this bug is at afkmods.iguanadons.net.
Best Answer
I am not positive about this; some of the information with regards to respawn timings are a bit weird at the moment. From what I can tell it's around 15 in game days for respawn. I'm not sure if this is exact; it might be dependent on you not visiting the area for a certain amount of time, but I don't think this is the case. Also for corpses to decompose I believe it is about the same time.
Edit
I believe it actually takes longer for bodies to decompose then it does for creatures to respawn as I had killed a guard in game and the guard respawned but his old body was still there. It might even be that visiting an area stops the decomposing of body but not the respawning. I will do some more tests soon =)