I am not sure if Return to the north will ever be finished.

Well I am going to try solo(First Time) with a Fighter/Mage/Thief using the Winters Bane mod.

I noticed a new spell that my mage can learn: Serpent's Skin - Gives +1 armour and gives +2 to saves against poison. Seems pretty good but I don't think I will need it before dragons eye.

Well I have had a chance to run the two mods and I have to say I like Project Auril the best, it provides some extra challenges, and battles so makes the game slightly tougher, as well as provides some really great items.

The Winters Bane mod is nice but it doesn't add anything to combat so it is almost not worth installing. It does give some extra spells and nice items but if you are not playing with TotLM I really would not bother adding it as Project Auril is the better mod. With Winters Bane there is a piece of elven armour to be found in Dragons eye but it is a little on the heavy side. It says it weighs 5lbs but it is more like 70lbs.