#bards and barding in Tamriel

[hydropyro]

Stealing the clothes of the best bard does not make one a good bard :/

[meredoubt]

here to tell you in 2023 that Cicero, the murderous jester from Skyrim, is still one of the best characters in video games

[what-even-is-thiss]

Was thinking about what fun things there are to do in elder scrolls games if you’re an npc and not the player character because I was watching Angelikatosh videos and it seems like all across Tamriel you’ve got the option to get drunk and go fight a mudcrab by the local lake or river.

In Daggerfall people just seem to walk around all day insulting strangers. You could go look at naked people in the temple I guess.

In Morrowind… uh… you can read tribunal approved books I guess. And do the get drunk and fight a mudcrab thing.

In Cyrodiil people sing drinking songs and get drunk in the middle of the day. So you could do that before fighting a mudcrab I guess. There’s the arena. You could watch people die. Or go die yourself I suppose. You can stare at statues. Walk in a garden. Read. Cyrodiil has some of the best options now that I think about it.

Skyrim has bards so you can listen to some music while you get drunk in preparation for your mudcrab fight.

You know now that I think about it, it makes sense that NPCs in Oblivion taunt you by saying “I’ve fought mudcrabs more fearsome than you” because they probably do fight mudcrabs. They would know. That’s all there is to do around there. No wonder people worship Daedra there’s nothing else to do

[moodcrab]

Looks like we'll be getting jyggy with it...

Fixing Skyrim's Daedric Quests

Part III Jyggalag

Even on my second or third ever play through of Skyrim NEARLY FIFTEEN YEARS AGO I still fully expected to find a Jyggalag quest hidden somewhere in the world. His absence was something of an anticlimax for many, as The Shivering Isle was the highlight of Oblivion for a lot of players. Jyggalag being missing from the world in the 200 years since his separation from Sheogorath makes little sense, and Jyggalag doesn't do things that aren't perfectly logical. Either he was overlooked by Bethesda, which is sloppy, or there's an implication that the events of Shivering Isle had no real lasting effect other than the odd cheeky remark from Sheogorath hinting at being the CoC, which is underwhelming to say the least.

But, it does give me a completely blank canvas to write this post, as we are going to be completely ignoring the Creation Club addition. Anniversary Addition is not cannon. I would no more consider a mod to be canon than CC, which isn't a fair comparison as the average mod is more lore friendly than the best CC content, which not only broke lore and established canon but, on occasion, broke the plotlines to whole games. Better games. And it did so for the shallow reason of selling Skyrim AGAIN. I repeat, Anniversary Edition is not canon. Except Scout Armour. That shit is fire.

Who is Jyggalag?

Jyggalag wasn't in Skyrim and was barely in Oblivion, so let's get to know him before we attempt to write a quest that might get into some heavy metaphysics.

Jyggalag is the Daedric Prince of Order in the sense of pure logical and statistical probability, not to be confused with Peryite whose realm is the Natural Order (you get sick, you die), in fact he has more areas of overlap with Jhunal, the Nordic god of mathematics, another unacceptably absent god in Skyrim. Jyggalag is the denial of both determined fate AND free will, everything that is fated and every decision freely made was already accurately and precisely predicted.

Your fate is 3+1

Your free will is 2+2

Either way, you are 4

That's who Jyggalag is. Cold hard numbers. Humourless, colourless, immensely powerful. The implication is that Jyggalag knew that his power would invite betrayal from his fellow Princes but would not deviate despite hating living as Sheogorath, that he knew full well that every Greymarch he'd do for millennia would inevitably be undone, but did them anyway, which must have been hell for him as "doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results" is the definition of insanity. His own nature would have him both foreseeing this AND refusing to alter it, so we can add incredibly patient and relentlessly unyielding to his character breakdown.

*He is also, in my opinion, an aspect of Lorkhan, his mind to be specific, but as this is just a theory I shall leave this to one side for this quest, but if you're interested I have a blog about it that I'll link in the comments.*

Setting the Scene

In case you haven't read the rest of my "Fixing Skyrim" series, the game is now set only 64 years after Oblivion, not the vanilla 200+ years. So it hasn't been that long since Jyggalag was freed and it's somewhat more believable that he hasn't gathered a significant following on Tamriel yet. Also, Silus Visuius, the Imperial who runs the Mythic Dawn museum in Dawnstar, is no longer a man having a mid life crisis who got really into family history, he is the child of actual Mythic Dawn cultists who was indoctrinated and traumatized during childhood. This will be relevant later.

Quest: Restoring Order

After attaining a reasonably high level, if you happen to be walking around one of the following locations; The Library at the College of Winterhold, The Dwemmer Museum at Markarth or the class rooms of The Bard's College, you will find an area unlocked that wasn't previously there. If you wander inside you will find a library, and amongst its stacked corridors, a priestly, unassuming looking man in plain grey robes, sat at a table with an empty chair, presumably for you. Why these locations? Well they have a thematic link to logic and knowledge, but also they are areas you are unlikely to return to once completing their associated quests, which will probably be completed at a lower level, so the quest is somewhat hidden.

The man, you discover, is Dyus of Mytheria, the Chamberlain of Jyggalag. You sit and he explains who he is and the situation with Jyggalag, that he has recently been liberated and requires a new Mytheria, his Realm of Oblivion. It just so happens that a pocket realm of oblivion has recently been "vacated", Gaia Alatar, aka Mankar Camoran's Paradise. Well, "recently" if you're immortal, of course. The pocket realm has been rapidly dissolving into the endless sea of Oblivion, but has not fully collapsed yet, and there is still one from its glory days that lives. He directs you to Silus at the Mythic Dawn Museum.

Silus, who insists his museum is purely in the interests of history, is upset that everyone finds it to be in bad taste, so he's pretty eager to show you around. It's not difficult to get him to overshare, but you'll need a high speech level to get him to spill the beans on his fucked up family history, but he was indeed the child of Mythic Dawn Cultists and was the youngest member as a child. If you gain his trust he will show you a secret artifact that is usually off limits to the public because he had to do some dangerous and very illegal things to acquire them: The Bands of the Chosen, an item the CoC used when he destroyed Paradise, but lost them inside. There are two approaches to enlisting him. Using the information you learn from him and what is available in his museum/house, you can either convince him to that you are also a Mythic Dawn remnant so he will trust you, or threaten him with information that he is a secret Dagon worshiper.

You take him and the Bands of the Chosen to Dyus, who explains that as a devotee of Dagon and follower of Cameron, Silus's soul is still technically destined to go to Paradise when he dies. You have the choice of killing Silus and using a unique soul trap spell to piggy back his soul to what remains of Paradise, or, as he is now begging for his life, spare him and let him open a portal using his Mythic Dawn magics (which is how he got the Bands in the first place). Either way it only works if you wear the bands. Dyus will also give you a conjure Knight of Order spell.

You enter Gaia Alatar, which will be a bizarre half world, with bits of Ayleid like architecture floating around a black sea. You must fight your way past a unique enemy, the tortured souls of the Mythic Dawn, to a throne. Once there you must conjure and kill a Knight of Order, and place its crystal heart on the throne. The destroyed and chaotic world will transform around you into a white crystalline solid state, and Jyggalag himself will finally arrive. He will explain that the Knights and their hearts are his own creation, and therefore worked as "chaotic creatia" (an aspect of a Daedric Prince that can be used to mold a Plane of Oblivion in their image. The Plane is small now, but will soon thrive and overtake the infinite seas of Oblivion. He rewards you by transforming the Bands of the Chosen into white crystal gauntlets called The Hands of Order, which gives the wearer a chance of doing non elemental "crystal" damage when striking, a shard of crystal shall strike the opponent. This works even with hand to hand.

And that's it. Don't worry about Silus, I had no intentions of using him in my Dagon fix. I'll be honest I'm a little disappointed with how this one turned out, I've been coming back to work on it for a while and just wanted to get it posted. I did attempt to write actual dialogue for Dyus, Silus and Jyggalag but it wasn't great, so here it is and I hope you like it.

[myhandsarentsmudgediusedigital]

So!

Delphine.

One of the last Blades, undercover as an inn owner, hates all things dragony, bossyass old Breton lady. Like all Skyrim characters, she's underused and underdeveloped in the vanilla game.

I have thoughts on her now.

Warning: SPOILERS FOR A BARD'S TALE BY GABBICAV (link to the story here)

I was going through and revamping one of my old Dragonborns I hadn't worked with in a while*. And I got an idea for a scene that happens right after the fight at Kynesgrove. Minerva and Michel** drag Delphine out of town to finally get an explanation as to who she is.

And as I was writing her dialogue, I realized that her motivation isn't just about the Blades.

Of course she wants to reform the Blades, that much is obvious, but I don't think that's the end of it. It's not just the Blades she wants back, she wants everything back: the Dragonborn, the Empire being whole, and the Blades being the Emporer's most trusted bodyguards.

Delphine wants the Third Era back, or at least the idealized version of it she has in her head. As far as she's concerned, everything started going wrong as soon as Martin died.

Here's a quick quote from what I wrote that I think helps lay it out:

“That’s what we’ve been doing since the fourth era began. We’ve been waiting for a new Dragonborn, a new emperor, to appear, and become the true heirs of the Empire.” Michel let out a low whistle. “True heirs, huh? The Mede dynasty might have an issue with that.” Delphine scowled. “The Medes can go suck an egg. Ever since Martin Septim sacrificed himself, the Empire has been going downhill! If there’s one thing these past two centuries have proven, it’s that only a Dragonborn can keep Tamriel together!”

Of course we know this isn't entirely true. While the Empire did fall apart in the Fourth Era, cracks were already starting to show even back in the Third Era, what with the Simulacrum and the War of the Red Diamond and all. The Third Era might have been more stable, but it was hardly peaceful.

But Delphine either doesn't know this or doesn't care. She wants that idealized vision back.

A while back, I read A Bard's Tale by Gabbicav on AO3 (if you like bards, intrigue, sibling rivalry, and a new perspective on dragons, this is for you).

Delphine is (probably unsurprisingly) an antagonist in the story. I'm going to put what exact actions she takes between spoiler warnings just in case.

In the story, Delphine, not the Dark Brotherhood, assassinates Titus Mede on his visit to Skyrim. At the time I believed it was simply for narrative convenience and to make her more villainous, but thinking about it from this new perspective it makes sense: Delphine views the Medes as imposters unworthy of the throne. They're not Dragonborn, that's why the Blades didn't serve them and why the Penitus Oculatus had to be created.

Plus, y'know, she probably hates him on a personal level for signing the Concordat.

Anyways, I forget if she and Esbern work with the Stormcloaks in the story or if they just happen to also be an antagonistic force, but her working with Ulfric wouldn't be out of character.

You see, Ulfric:

a) Hates the (current) Empire

b) Hates the Thalmor

c) Has charisma enough to have at least a cult following

d) Obviously doesn't agree with the Greybeards because he left their order

e) Idolizes Tiber Septim/Talos

Add to that the fact he can Shout, even if he isn't actually Dragonborn, it might be tempting for Delphine to forge an allience.

Hell, maybe that was her original plan before the dragons and last Dragonborn showed up.

And now she has someone better then Ulfric: a real live Dragonborn that can absorb souls and kill dragons. Who can shout naturally. A true heir to the Ruby Throne.

All that goes a long way towards explaining her behavior. First, she makes sure you're the real deal. Then she sets you on the path to seeing the atrocities the Thalmor commit (even if they're not actually behind the return of the dragons) and reopening the old Blades temple.

And it explains why she's so huffy about Paarthunax. She and the Blades are supposed to be your most trusted advisors, not a dragon who's committed several atrocities (let's ignore that was thousands of years ago and he's been trying to make up for it since)! She has the very specific idea of what a Dragonborn is, and when you inevitable don't measure up to that for whatever reason, she gets angry.

Delphine is a frustrating character, even with development. She longs for a bygone era of peace that didn't ever exist, where she and those in her organization were held with the highest respect and not hunted down and killed, where the Thalmor don't exist, and all is right with the world (in her view).

And that is why you will never change her mind.

...sounds pretty familiar. Maybe she and Ulfric should team up after all...

*Minerva, if you're curious, may post art of her and her brother soon...if I remember...

**Previously known as Gildas, he's become Minerva's twin dragonborn instead of her older mundane brother

[tread-ever-litely]

TES PROTAGONISTS

So an idea I’ve had rattling around is doing little bios for my mainline Elder Scrolls heroes, enjoy.

The Elder Scrolls I: Arena

Name: Hadraniel (He/They)

An Altmer knight-paladin of Auri-El born in the capital of the Summerset Isles, Alinor. Would eventually go on to become a trusted member of the Septim Empire’s royal court, which of course would land them in prison after Jagar Tharn enacts his coup. Very traditionally chivalrous and heroic, as befits the kind of classic ‘stop the evil wizard’ plot that Arena had. Also uses grim humour to cope with his continent-spanning task. His fate is unclear, some saying he returned home to Alinor, others theorizing he went to reclaim the Battlespire for the Empire.

The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall

Name: Kyani al-Shajar (She/Her)

A Redguard Bard from a small town in northwestern Hammerfell, not far from the city of Sentinel. Joined the Blades after an offer was extended by one of Uriel Septim VII’s sons who was visiting Sentinel where she worked for the Temple of Dibella and within the noble courts picking up rumours and the like. Her knowledge on Iliac Bay politics basically gave her an in. Cut forward to the events of Daggerfall and she’s put to the test investigating everything as the Emperor’s Agent. Does her best to be kind but also knows how to ‘work the system’ as it were. Her ultimate fate is unknown due to the time-altering effects the Numidium created.

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

Name: Zyarie (She/Her)

A Dunmer Nightblade from the Imperial City, she spent her childhood as an urchin and a thief barely scraping by. Coming into adulthood and she joined a local gang where she learned some magical skills and honed her aptitude for stealth and thievery further. This eventually landed her in hot water with the law after she was caught trying to break into the home of a member of the Elder Council. She gets thrown in jail for a few months until she’s shipped off to Morrowind and the events of that story pick up from there. Over the course of the plot she has flashes of memories that aren’t hers and with her getting the Moon-and-Star ring is fully given Nerevar’s memories — including his gruesome death — but she isn’t overridden, Zyarie is still her own person, just with another’s memories alongside hers. At the beginning she nearly outright rejects the idea of her being the Nerevarine, but overtime the memories become too clear and she slowly accepts it, with the help of her allies and friends. After the defeat of Dagoth Ur, and Zyarie sadly having to kill Almalexia, she would mysteriously fade from the public eye, and is rumoured to have left all-together, possibly to Akavir. Though, others say she travels Tamriel still.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Name: Llevana (She/They)

A Dunmer Rogue born in Narsis but raised in Cheydinhal, they were the child of a disgraced noble who was forced to leave Morrowind. Fell into a decadent crowd who turned out to be a minor cult of Mephala. There they learned the arts of stealth and how to speak smoothly, until in true Webspinner fashion, was betrayed by their former ‘friends,’ and framed for a crime they did not commit. Cut forward a few months to Uriel tromping up to them and doing the whole spiel, where the dashing disheveled rogue felt a strange compulsion to help the weird human man. Shenanigans and Oblivion Crisis ensues, Llevana gets the hots for Martin and they totally have some time together before he turns into a Dragon, blasts Dagon to bits, and becomes a statue. Llevana kind of snaps a little after this, vanishing into the Shivering Isles portal, and mantles Sheogorath entirely. Though from then on, uncle Sheo would begin to appear as a Dark Elf more and more to the common madmen.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Name: Ylva Frostborn (She/Her)

A Nord spellsword born in Falkreath but grew up in Bruma. Her father was a widowed blacksmith who served in the Legion during the Great War. She had a generally unremarkable childhood, hunting in the frosted woods around the city and helping her father, while learning some magecraft on the side as it was an interest of hers. Story old as time; she’s caught in the middle of a skirmish between the Imperials and Stormcloaks on the border, and taken prisoner. She escapes, and the events of Skyrim take place. Ylva is the most stoic of the heroes, though has the most with her on her journey (modded followers, team Dragonborn.) She eventually disappears from Skyrim, some say on an expedition to Atmora, others, that she dwells in Apocrypha. However she is said to return when Tamriel as a whole needs her.

[kid-az]

Skyrim/Nords Headcanons (Very long)

Skyrim Headcanon 1: The coasts of the northern holds (Particularly Winterhold and Hjaalmarch) have a unique tradition in that clam and shellfish gatherers will strip most or all of their clothes and then smear themselves with the grease and oils of horkers and chub loons. By smearing themselves with horker grease, this not only traps heat within the gatherers bodies but also helps attract the small shellfish they harvest to feed their families or sell at the market.

Skyrim Headcanon 2: Those few farmers that live in Skyrim (Along with several Orsimer strongholds and Reachfolk tribes) have a complex trade system with the Giants, (Likewise for the Giants) with an equivalent exchange for whatever spiral-painted cows are sacrificed/gifted to the Giants. It is customary in Giant culture that the individual must grant the farmer that Cows weight in mammoth cheese or furs, that or they may stand guard and protect the farm during the night from wild animals.

Of course, this is just one example of the Giant and Nord trading system, and it is undeniably far more complex than that. For example, the Stormcloaks trade exchange with the Giants involves defending their mammoths from poachers. In exchange, several of the Giants are expected to help fight for the Stormcloak’s cause of an independent Skyrim. This exchange is kept so long as either party does what is expected of their duties.

Most small peoples/Giant relations often involve this trade and the duty of repaying that generosity, in whatever way they may be able to. Also, Giants do eat the Cows they are given.

Skyrim Headcanon 3: The Bards College within the Haafingar Hold actually had an extensive knowledge, history, and grasp in magic. Students learning from the college would learn spells that would allow them to pacify wildlife, boost the physical, mental, and spiritual abilities of friends & allies, and even counteract the effects of other spells and magic through their music. Indeed, even in the 4th Era where many Nords grew somewhat disgruntled by magic, the Bards College still continued on with its magical traditions, reasoning that the ability to counteract other magic with music would allow them to better fight the Thalmor.

As for instruments, members of the Bards College would use a large variety of them, whether it be the talharpa, the lyre, drums, the jaw’s harp, flutes, and musical horns. They’ve picked up a variety of other instruments and musical styles from around Tamriel as well, but they still mostly teach the traditional instruments used by the Nords. Folks from the Bards College also tattoo themselves with musical-themed tattoos, along with birds.

Skyrim Headcanon 4: Being a major hub for trade between Morrowind and Skyrim alike, the Rift has seen a small influx of creatures native to the former, in particular the Guar, (Due to their intellect, omnivorous diet, and the appeal of a giant lizard as a mount) a semi-giant (4 inch long) species of bee known as the Lightning Bees, (Make good honey for mead, but are aggressive and emit electric shocks through magic. Bards are needed to keep them docile) and the Kwama.

The Kwama in particular is a noted point of interest in the 4th era, as a third of all Kwama mining takes place within the Rift since the Red Mountain’s eruption, many members of House Hlaalu remaining in Skyrim after they lost their seat as a Great House. A breeding population of Silt Striders has also become established within the hold, snacking on the sweet leaves of the autumnal forests. They are a protected species within the Rift.

Although the members of House Hlaalu would become a house associated with the underworld and illegal dealings back in the home province, most of the members of the House in the Rift would be more honest Kwama miners and traders. Disturbed by their former compatriots openly and publicly turning to crime, these former House Hlaalu members would renounce their title, wishing to not be associated with the criminal underworld by proxy.

Skyrim Headcanon 5: Nords fucking love bees!!!

Okay, to be more specific they love bees due to their immense enjoyment of mead, so many of the southern holds would have many large bee farms. The northern holds (Or the rich) meanwhile create greenhouses to contain the bees and lots of flowers for them to pollinate and create honey out of. Riften is the unofficial capital of bee farming, as its pleasant environment compared to the rest of Skyrim allows for the largest and highest quality bee farms.

Of course, farming bees for honey isn’t their only use. For example, the Nords have quite a knack for snacking on the bees themselves, (Roasted) as they make a quick and energizing snack for both adults and children. The beeswax can be used to make candles and skin cream, the latter being of particular importance as Skyrim’s cold environment leads to dry skin. 

They’ll also use every part of a bee hive, such as bee pollen, propolis, and on occasion even royal jelly. The royal jelly is used to make particularly potent medications and can be distilled as a drink for the jarls and other high-status folk, even if it’s less sweet than honey.

Skyrim Headcanon 6: The Ice Tribes were strange, sapient constructs made of ice that suddenly appeared during the late 3rd Era, the only possible evidence to their appearance being several icebergs that drifted towards northern High Rock and Skyrim. Little is known about them other than the fact they wielded enchanted ice and snow in their battles against the peoples of Tamriel, and were also known to raise the dead as their personal servants in several different eyewitness reports.

They were invincible to all except for particularly strong soul-trapping spells, Daedric and Dwemer weapons, and certain glasses such as ebony, elven glass, and obsidian. Their undead servants meanwhile were extremely sensitive to heat, even among the fellow undead. Eventually, these strange beings would go extinct, unable to compete against the peoples of Tamriel and their superior magical knowledge.

In Skyrim, these beings were compared to the ancient ice demons that the Nord’s Atmoran ancestors historically fought against. Although notable for being called the Atmoran’s greatest opponents in the old tales, they were given no true name, only being nicknamed “The Others.”

Skyrim Headcanon 7: Eastmarch is a Hold famous for its extensive amounts of hot springs and geothermal activity, which the residents have made extensive use out of. Villagers would not take long, warm baths within the more modestly-heated springs, but they will also use these springs as a natural hotpot to steam/boil food, which saves on firewood and gives the food a rich taste. Minerals can also be harvested from the springs, though these are historically controlled harvests instituted by the Jarls in fear of the springs becoming destroyed or dried up.

Windhelm can credit its continued existence as one of Skyrim’s largest and oldest cities from these springs, as an extensive pipe system created during the 3rd Era allowed for the spring water to flow through, keeping the city warm and providing a constant and nearby supply of mineral-rich water for the inhabitants to use. Not all was well unfortunately, as the springs were historically used as a form of execution on criminals and Falmer slaves, their bodies boiled and then dissolved within the boiling pools of water. This practice has thankfully stopped.

Skyrim Headcanon 8: Historically, Nord culture emphasized the rite of adulthood through hunting. This came in the form of small groups of young Nordic men and women having to travel to the wilderness and work together to slaughter a large animal to bring back to their village/clan, either a bear or troll in most Holds. Usually, this small group of adolescent hunters is watched over by an adult warden, ready to jump in should the hunt end in disaster for them.

This practice waned during the 3rd Era, practiced only by Jarl successors or the High King’s inheritor. However, it would regrow in popularity due to the aftermath of the Great War and the nationalism of an Independent Skyrim, as well as the interest of the younger generation “going back to their roots” culturally. Ulfric’s commanders were chosen based on how well they led their comrades against bandits or Falmer.

Some of the Hold's adult rites involved hunting different animals, such as Hjaalmarch having the youth hunt a chaurus reaper or Winterhold’s rite of citizenship being given once a group managed to kill an ice wraith together. The Reach Once had its youth hunt Dwemer Anuminculi as an adult rite, which led to predictably disastrous results.

Skyrim Headcanon 9: Examples of Snow Elf architecture outside of the Chantry of Auri-El actually exist, but they are all underground! The Snow Elves alongside the Dwemer teleported most of their important buildings so that they wouldn’t get destroyed and repurposed by the Nords. As of today, these buildings are still utilized as places of worship or habitation by the modern Falmer, albeit the religion they worship is a little different, as they have included several Daedra (Most prominently Malacath) into their faith and sun worship has been abandoned entirely in favor of worshipping heat in general.

Skyrim Headcanon 10: Final and brief headcanon for Skyrim that being that Whiterun has a high werewolf population (Due to the Companions and the “lucky” few that got their specific strain of lycanthropy) but surprisingly few werewolf-related deaths. Because of this fact, Werewolves are given just a bit more respect and are given far less fear than in other regions, as many travelers and locals find themselves getting rescued from a wild animal or bandits by those blessed by Hircine.

[jorrvaskrmoons]

@delavairess This was called Duty :) it was good writing practice for me

The slamming of the jail door jolted Arisa awake and she peered up bleary eyed  at the guard who stood before her. Rising to her feet from the dirty cot she had been laying on, she clutched her aching head and  peered up at the guard in  confusion. 

.

“Wha- what's going on? Where am I? “ she demanded, instantly  regretting it as the pounding in her head was made worse by her tone.

Somewhat alert now, she glanced around her surroundings. She was in a cell, the small dirty cot and bucket of water the only things of value in it. Ah.. a jail cell by the looks of it. She took in the sigil of the guard who was eyeing her impatiently. The sigil of Whiterun. Ok, That answered the question as to where she was. Now to find out the why , she thought.

“Guard! why am I here?” she repeated.

The guard snorted in annoyance. 

“ You know why, girl. Now hurry up. The Jarl wants to see you.”

The shove he gave her was anything but gentle. Staggering, she shot him a glare that could have melted snow. Bastard.  Raising her chin, she marched out the cell, the guard humming "The dragonborn comes" in a toneless tune behind her.

As she trailed behind the guard up the winding steps to  Dragons Reach, she struggled to remember what happened the night before. A  series of memories drifted into her thoughts and she mentally unpacked them. She vaguely remembered boasting that she could outdrink anyone in the Bannered Mare. The whoops and hollers of the patrons as she bested some of the more seasoned drinkers.Her dancing to the tune of the "Maiden in the Rye". Crooning a sappy love song to a tall dark haired nord in black war paint as he stared at her in shock. Wait.. what was that last memory?!   She reddened as the memory replayed loud and clear.  

She had been dancing a merry jig when the tall nord had walked in. Hearing the raucous greeting from those all around, she looked up and at that moment, she felt her heart leap into her throat. Vilkas. The man whose heart she had broken when she had left Whiterun 3 years ago to escape her destiny. She watched as he made himself comfortable at the bar, affably chatting with Hilda as he ordered a drink. He hadn't  noticed her but yet he would. 

Before she had time to think, she snatched the lute from Mikael hands and began to strum a familiar tune, one he was sure to recognize. She ignored the bard's outrage for the moment. All that mattered was the song. At the sound, Vilkas paused, lowering his raised mug and slowly turned around. His widened eyes gazed into hers and it felt like time stood still. She didn't know what prompted her, but in that moment, she only knew she had to sing. 

" My heart belongs to You. 

My life is yours till the end. 

Oh, love Let this moment last forever 

Safe in your arms the way we intend."

As the last lyric fell from her lips, she felt someone grasp her arm. Without thinking, she elbowed them  hard in the face. Consequences  be damned.  At the surprised grunt of pain, she turned and found herself facing an angry guard, nose broken and bleeding, with his  sword raised and ready. "By the order of the Jarl, stop right there!" He barked. 

"FUS!"

The shout she sent in his direction was enough to stagger him and as he stumbled, she saw her chance. She raced to the door but unfortunately, her trembling legs gave out halfway there. As the guard shackled her and began to drag her out the inn, she could gaze shame faced at Vilkas who turned away.

A snap of fingers chased away her thoughts and she stared wide eyed at the annoyed guard who pointed at the great Dragons Reach door.

"You've been warned, Dragonborn. Harm the Jarl and  this will be your last day on Tamriel."

At her nod, the guard  pushed open the heavy doors and they entered the keep.

As they approached the throne, Arisa kept her  eyes downcast, staring at the polished floorboards. Anything  but to look at the man who had commanded her 3 years ago to go to the greybeards.  Because  of her, the dragons had grown stronger and more and more, skyrim and its people suffered. 

As the guard stopped, she peered up, meeting  the steely eyed gaze of Jarl Balgruuf.

"You. What are you doing here, Dragonborn? Why are you here causing problems in my city instead of being with the greybeards or trying to help with the dragon attacks?"  He said grimly.

Arisa stared defiantly at him, chin pointed high. 

" What I do is my own business. I answer to no one." she snapped and the Jarl arched an eyebrow at her tone.

" I didn't realize the dragonborn of legend was a coward." He said coldly. "Fit only for hounding men like a lovesick bitch."

Rage filled her mind at his words. She took a step forward and opened her mouth, prepared to respond in the same vile manner.  The tip of a blade in her back stilled her. The guard was too close to her for her to Shout him away. That sword would be in her guts before she could.  The Jarl eyed her sharply and continued on.

"Nevertheless, you have been brought to me for judgment and judge I shall.”

"For the crime of thievery, the cost of the crime is 300 septims.

Arisa snorted. " Thievery?! I'm no thief! Who did I supposedly steal from?!"

The Jarl glared at her. "You stole a valuable instrument from our local bard to serenade some man like a fool. That instrument  was vital to him and thanks to you, it was broken during your scuffle with the city guard. As for your attack on my guard,  the cost of the crime is 1000 septims and 1 year of imprisonment."

For a moment  the Jarl paused, and then he leaned forward and gazed at Arisa grimly. 

"Fortunately for you, someone took pity and paid your fines. But it leaves the question  of what to do with you and your imprisonment."  

Jarl Balgruuf motioned to his steward and whispered  something  in his ear.  Avvendici nodded and left, heading towards the stairway leading towards the Great Balcony.

Arisa glared at the jarl as he began to speak again.

" And fortunately  for me, I have a solution for the dragonborn to serve me instead of rotting in the cells."

At the sound of clanking metal, the Jarl smiled and greeted the figure striding into the hall.

“ Harbinger, I'm glad you came.”

Vilkas nodded and gazed coldly at Arisa before turning his attention to the Jarl.

“How can I serve you, Jarl Balgruuf?”

The Jarl nodded towards Arisa.  “The dragonborn once served your guild. While her punishment is imprisonment, a better use for her would be to rejoin your guild and do her duty to Skyrim's people by thinning out the dragon menace. “

Vilkas frowned at the idea. “ The Companions are bound together by Honor. We don't force anyone to join our guild. The very idea is absurd. And Besides, the dragonborn dishonored herself from the guild by leaving when we were facing a difficult time after Kodlak's passing. It can't be done. I'm sorry.`

The Jarl hmphed and scowled at the Harbinger. 

“It is vital that the dragons be taken care of right away. Skyrim and her people have suffered enough under the yoke of those beasts. The Dragonborn is no use to Whiterun in a cell. Come now, be reasonable. Let her rejoin your guild and take care of the dragons.”

“ You mean watch her to make sure she does the job.” Vilkas said flatly.

Balgruuf shrugged. “ Maybe that too. She seems to be in the habit of abandoning her duties.”

Arisa stared angrily at both of them. “ You bastards, Talking about me as if i'm not here! How about asking me what I like to do?!” she snarled.

Jarl Balgruuf waved an impatient hand in her direction. “ Join the Companions or rot in the cells, dragonborn.” 

It was Vilkas's turn to look outraged.  “I never said that she could rejoin the guild, Jarl. You overstep your bounds.”

Arisa contemplated her choices while the Jarl and Harbinger argued amongst themselves. 

Sitting in a prison cell was not how she intended to spend a year of her life. But she had no urge to rejoin the companions, to face the soundless accusations either.  

She studied Vilkas and suddenly she felt the urge to cry. Not a year. Not a year of knowing he would shun her for leaving the way she did. Angrily pinching herself, she stilled the flood of tears and swallowed back the lump in her throat. It was foolish to think of that now.

“ Jarl Balgruuf, wouldn't it be better for me to serve you in the company of the guards instead?” she asked, the tremble in her voice the only sign of the internal turmoil she was facing.

The Jarl shook his head. “ No. Again, it's either join the Companions or serve your time in the cells. “ 

With that, Arisa sighed and nodded dejectedly. 

“ I will rejoin the Companions.” 

Vilkas snarled in frustration. “ I never said you could join, Dragonborn!”  he said harshly.

She clenched her fists. “ You would rather see me in jail?!” she shot back just as harsh.

Vilkas exhaled slowly and rubbed his face. “ No.” 

Stormy blue-gray eyes suddenly met her own and she drew back uneasily.  There was an angry fire burning in those eyes.

“Before I let you rejoin, swear to me that you won't run. That you won't abandon your duty to fight the dragons for a year. Swear it and you may rejoin.”

Arisa hesitated  then nodded. Kneeling before Vilkas, she looked up at him.  “ I swear not to abandon my duty. I swear I will fight the dragons on behalf of Skyrim and her people. On my honor I swear it to you, Harbinger.”

The look that Vilkas gave her was indescribable. He made a motion for her to rise and as she slowly got up, she noticed his own clenched fists.

Jarl Balgruuf, who had been quiet so far, beamed in delight.  “The matter is resolved then, Harbinger.”  With a nod to them both, he left them, heading upstairs towards the great balcony.

Vilkas gave Arisa a tight nod and headed to the main doors. As Arisa followed him, she already regretted her choice to rejoin.

[kumasan-tes]

This is my ESO OC Do’nyargo 🐈

He is a bard cat who likes to play the lute and tambourine.

He is actually a member of the Eyes of the Queen, and travels around Tamriel informing the Queen of local gourmet food!!

[stormbeyondreality]

Ebonsong (being rewritten)

A shipwreck just off the Coast of Winterhold with only one survivor, fleeing an arranged marriage. A survivor who trains as a mage, a priest, a bard, a Companion…who becomes so much more than the bastard of a lesser lord. On the other side of Skyrim, a girl chosen by chance of birth to manipulate her people's land back into their hands again, granted the greatest gift she could have expected. A boy raised by bandits who becomes a reluctant nightmare. A girl with sticky fingers betrayed and sent away…into an easier reach for her quest of vengeance. A girl who was once a boy, magic tangling about her fingers like light glinting off of emeralds, who will learn so much more than she bargained for.

Full Series ||| Verse 1: Snowbloom (WIP) | Verse 2: Mercy Mirror | Verse 3: Tarnished Grace (unfinished)

Series in Screenshots: Snowbloom | Mercy Mirror [1] [2] | Tarnished Grace [1] [2] [3] Bonus and Deleted Scenes

OC Intros: Erlind | Nathari | Larus | Janora | Volgash | Vezha | Fjora | Aicarya Tags: Erlind | Nathari | Larus | Janora | Volgash | Vezha | Fjora | Aicarya

Sunsteel and Roses

As far as anyone knows, Khayal at-Nimat is the the most ordinary Paladin of Tava in the temple. Even the fact that they requested leave to take a pilgrimage about Tamriel to see how other cultures worshipped the goddess of the sky and sea was within normal expectations. But when they arrived in Skyrim, thoughts set on the Temple of Kyne in Whiterun and High Hrothgar on the Throat of the World, fate declared them so much more than ordinary.

Sunsteel and Roses (not yet posted)

OC Intros: Khayal | Satyana | Kaivis | Dunelon | Nisavi | J'talra Tags: Khayal | Satyana | Kaivis | Dunelon | Nisavi | J'talra

Extras

Headcanons/Lore Tag (chronological)

Ficless OCs:

Intros: Helina the Tempest | Suldil Tags: Helina the Tempest | Suldil Helina's Journals: Start | Tag

Ask Games Tag

[skyrim-crossing]

2, 13, and 20 for the TES OC game <3

Thank you so much lovely! <3

2. When they cast magic, what's their style? Are they flamobyant or reserved? Do they wave their hands around? Do they like making a show of it? Are they verbal?

Obsidian is 100% a show off when it comes to casting magic. She's very proud of her extensive magical knowledge, and she uses intimidation to her advantage. Being over eight ft tall, she likes to be incredibly dramatic with her magic casting, sometime's she will chant/shout something along with her spells, even when she doesn't need to. This can be a weak spot in her defence, as sometime's she can be too focused on making a show, that she isn't fully surveying the battlefield. If she or someone she cares for is in a struggle, she will avoid the theatrics and just focus on magic casting instead.

13. What are their hobbies?

Obsidian has a very large range of hobbies, however most of them are centred around the Daedra or collecting artefacts. She enjoys cooking, she is a tattooist when she isn't teaching Daedrology or protecting Skyrim, she's a fully qualified bard and she loves collecting teacups of all things. She has a wall of her house filled with ornate teacups from all over Tamriel. She even tattooed a small teacup on her arm when she first started learning.

20. If you took their bag and upended it now, what would you find in it?

Obsidian is an incredibly prepared woman. You'd find everything but the kitchen sink in her backpack. However, the main items she always has in her bag are: A home-cooked meal and snacks, a water skin, a Septim pouch, an alchemy bag, her key-chain, her notebook which she uses to draw interesting locations, plants, animals etc., an ink pot and a quill, her map, some potions, and some interesting rocks she found on her travels.

[itsalwaysgarytime]

Airalila

Finally finished a piece for my Altmer (High Elf) OC Airalila!

Should make a character sheet for her in the future.

-------- Bio -------

Born in Cyrodiil to Summerset expats. She was taken to the Imperial City at a young age to learn at the Mage's Guild. She excelled at being a student at the guild. But this was all to please her parents. One day, the stress and anxiety of living up to her family's expectations finally broke her. She did her best to stage her death. She ran away (technically levitated away.) from the city. After months of wandering the country side of Cyrodiil. She was taken in and given shelter by a Monastery of Dibella. There she was accepted into their group, becoming a healer. She was taught to appreciate the beauty of Tamriel. Traveling the province, with an easel and canvas trying to paint sights that she herself considers beautiful. Along the way of her travels, she provides her role as a healer. Treating the sick and wounded and spreading the teachings that Dibella would want mortals to be aware of. She could also be considered a non official (never went to a school to learn) bard as well. Providing healing melodies at taverns and public locations in towns and cities.

[chiqita]

14 for the elder scrolls oc ask meme!

Hi!

14. At what age did your OC leave their hometown and why? Or have they never left?

Talisse left the Summerset Isles in the tender age of six and moved with her mother to Valenwood, where they moved around quite often, not staying in one place for too long. The main reason they did this was because her mother lost the favor of her family because of a teensy-tiny scandal and staying in the Isles could have been dangerous. Turns out Valenwood isn't much kinder to dissidents. After leaving Valenwood, they travelled around Tamriel for a few years working as bards and entertainers before Talisse finally finds herself in Skyrim.

Thanks for the ask! ❤️

[skyrim-forever]

Sujamma Sundas (on Middas)

I've been tagged two weeks in a row by @sulphuricgrin @bougainvillea-and-saltwater and today by @dirty-bosmer thank you for tagging me! I've been a lil busy lately but want to do them so we doing both here :)

Facts: Going to use this as an opportunity to yap about Vevora now that she is reworked and has development <3

When asked about her profession, Vevora would say she's an artist. She has experience in threatre, dance, painting, and writing.

She also grew up in a very artist family, her father is a renown painter, combining techniques he learned in across Tamriel with traditional Dunmer styles. Her mother was a priestess of Dibella turned romance novelist as a way to express her worship discretely.

Her drink of choice is Matze, particularly Spiced Matze but while in Skyrim she grows fond of a botanical mead. Likes herbs and berries.

She is Breton/Dunmer and has been to High Rock once, as a teen. Very confusing and overwhelming but after living in Skyrim, she could see herself visiting again.

She came to Skyrim originally to try to be a bard but found she doesn't enjoy the Nordic tradition and style. No she travels around, seeking inspiration for her work and helps her cousin with his own budding art career.

She has a few tattoos, match black lines that begin at the hips and circle around her thighs until the back of the knee as well as a stylized lily on her chest.

2. Quotes: From Theodora <3

“He asked me about my thoughts on Talos afterwards, asked me to indulge him as a friend and I did. We are friends.”

“I would. How does it make you feel to hear that?”

“I am too tired to fight it. Let them say what they want, I know myself and when I forget, those I love will remind me."

“They looked nice when I put them in. I felt very pretty…”

"What was that you said? He’s depraved beyond repair?” 

“Am I not pleasant conversation? You wound me my friend, you really do.”

[scales-like-ash]

As some may probably know, I love Bethesda's RPGs

I played more of them than any other games combined

I've played Morrowind, Oblivion, Fallout 3, New Vegas, Skyrim, Fallout 76, Elder Scrolls Online and Starfield

They aren't the best RPGs out there, I know that.

They aren't as good or deep like Baldurs Gate or Cyberpunk

But I always find my way back to Tamriel, the Wastelands or the Starfield because these games give me a feeling to actually be in these worlds, to see people live their lives and to just sit in an Inn and listen to the Bard

And these types of gameplay are what makes them so unique to me and they helped me to become the person I am today, the nerdy dude, with an Argonian Fursona, who bombards his friends with useless trivia and I'm thankful for that

The grammar probably sucks hard but I don't care <3

[thelostmetallurgist]

📚 “TAMRIELIC FIELD JOURNALS OF MZULAN ARCTUR NHEZTAR”

Volume I–∞: He Walked Into Every Damn Ruin By the Only Dwemer Left, and Apparently the Only One Who Remembers Why We Had So Many Trapdoors

“I have crossed every province. I’ve slept beside crumbled automatons and debated with ghosts. I’ve found elevators that only go sideways, journals that insult their own authors, and blueprints for weapons that require two stars to be in love to fire properly. The Dwemer were not just builders. We were story-carvers. Bastards. Comedians. Visionaries. And more than anything—petty.” — Mzulan, standing waist-deep in snow, reading a schematic aloud to no one

🧂 Skyrim – Nchardak (Solstheim)

Recovered Tonal Planar Stabilizer #7. Activation Runes etched beneath schematic read: “You only need to understand five of the twelve points. Guess which.”

Mzulan’s note:

“This trap kills Altmer pride more than it does bodies. Bravo, Clan Voryn. Subtle as a slap with a tonal pickaxe.”

💥 Hammerfell – Bthuand Mzahnch

Found a weathered plaque on a locked vault door: “Do not open unless it is important. But how important? We leave that to you.”

Mzulan:

“This is why we couldn’t be trusted with diplomacy. We asked existential questions to unlock doors.” (Margin: “I opened it anyway. There was cheese. Three-thousand-year-old cheese. Still spongy. Still judging me.”)

🐍 Morrowind – Nchuleftingth

Personal log discovered inside a sealed automaton: “Experiment #14: Gave the centurion a flute instead of a warhammer. Will see if music subdues Chimer better.”

Mzulan:

“He tried to bard-battle the Dunmer. Incredible. Why didn’t we keep this one? I must recreate it.” (Sketch: Centurion playing flute, labeled: “Tonal Jazz Unit”)

🔍 High Rock – Bthzark

Journal Fragment, scribed on the back of an engineering manual: “I am not jealous of Dervenin’s harmonics. I am not. I simply believe his wife programmed his constructs for him.”

Mzulan:

“Ah yes, Dwemer academia. Where betrayal happens in footnotes and divorce occurs via schematic sabotage.” (Doodle: Dervenin being hit with a blueprint)

🔮 Cyrodiil – Avanchnzel

Diary Entry etched in mirrored runes: “Today I dreamed. That is… concerning. I will consult the forge. Perhaps it was broken.”

Mzulan’s Commentary:

“Dreaming was taboo for us. Some thought it meant you were being touched by the Outside. Others just thought it was inefficient. Either way, this poor engineer probably woke up scared and tried to hit himself with a wrench.” (Side note: “Dream analysis—likely tonal bleed from proximity to Ayleid ruins.”)

🗿 Black Marsh – Untagged Ruin (Dwemer name: Chor’Rhuz-Zel)

Found: Rotating sculpture of an abstract mer. Spinning. Forever. No mechanism attached. Just spinning.

Mzulan:

“...There is no record of this place. No schematics. No design notes. Which means someone wanted it forgotten. That, or we were just showing off.” (He later camps there for five days, trying to match its spin frequency to tonal songs. Claims it hums during thunderstorms.)

🧷 Elsweyr – Partial Collapse Site: “B’thel’vaazhn”

Underwater etchings, readable only via light-angle diffraction: “Tell the moons I’m sorry. I was aiming for something smaller.”

Mzulan:

“That... that is a tonal engineering confession. Some fool tried to move a hill and hit Masser. The moons wobbled slightly that year. It was in Khajiiti poetry. Now I know why.” (He records this while floating, humming, eyes glowing like twin lanterns in the deep.)

💬 Notable Mzulanisms Found in His Margins:

“Why is this control panel written in Dwemeris, Daedric, and Sload pictograms? Who were we trying to impress? Or terrify?”

“We labeled this corridor ‘Optional Death Path.’ It’s literally in the stone. Why do you people keep walking down it?”

“Found a schematic for a tonal cannon requiring ‘six synchronized heartbeats.’ You ever try to convince six engineers to agree on tempo? Massacres happened.”

“Some of these constructs weren't built for war or labor. They were... ornamental. They sing. They hum. They glow when you compliment them. Did we build loneliness into metal?”

🔖 Interjections from Azhrina (on the journey):

Azhrina (on Markarth):

“You’re laughing again. The last time you laughed this much was when that Bosmer scholar stepped on a tonal valve and briefly time-traveled into his own nightmare.”

Mzulan:

“Yes. I still think about that. He screamed in iambic verse.”