#skyrim save

[arcanewonder]

beyond the throat of the world.

[chipper-smol]

warmup doodles of a lil somethin somethin that Loop retained post-loops

[arsuf]

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim ▪ 17/?

[aaphra]

Skyrim Scenery 44/∞

[theyarnwizard]

PSA for crafters:

It's okay to not want to do your craft, just because you are a creative person doesn't mean that you need to be constantly creating and making!

Putting down a project that is driving you nuts and playing Skyrim for a week is OKAY!

Needing a break from your project is natural, even if it's just to pick up another one of your other hobbies.

The point of doing something you love is to enjoy doing it, so if you're not vibing, just take a break! It doesn't make you "less" of a knitter or crocheter or whatever. Be kind to yourselves, take a break and drink some water! 😚

[umbracirrus]

Okay, so, I have recently been thinking about axes and their importance in Nord culture in Skyrim, in part because I have something planned in a fanfiction that involves giving an axe and have been doing a little bit of research into it, and I have gone down a bit of a rabbit hole so please bear with me on this mini essay in which I have pulled together my thoughts/observations about axes in Skyrim and my two favourite Jarls, Balgruuf and Ulfric.

So, as anyone who has done the Civil War quests in Skyrim would know, there is a pivotal point in which the balance of power in Skyrim shifts either towards the Empire or the Stormcloaks based purely upon the player's alignment - when Whiterun either aligns with the Imperials or is taken by force by the Stormcloaks. Of course, there is one particular event which happens immediately before the battle begins, and that is the delivery of an axe.

However, at this point I would just like to bring up something which will become relevant later no matter what your alignment - at the point of the axe being sent, you have been named a Thane of Whiterun. Balgruuf won't hear anything to do with the Civil War when a dragon is attacking the Western Watchtower, so becoming both Dragonborn and a Thane is a prerequisite to the Civil War.

If you align with the Empire, it is Balgruuf who decides to send an axe. If you ask why, he gives the explanation that "if he returns it to you it means we have business to settle. If he keeps it, then we are at peace.", and if you ask whether you should say anything, he says that Ulfric knows what it means (also important for later!). The other dialogue option which isn't just 'sure, okay, I'll do that' also says that it is tradition, and that Ulfric honours traditions.

Obviously, Ulfric doesn't accept it and you return to Balgruuf with the news that he will be attacking Whiterun and suddenly, the city is under siege. When you win, Balgruuf personally thanks you for what you have done after his victory speech.

Now, on the other side of things, if you side with the Stormcloaks, it is Ulfric who gives you the axe to take to Balgruuf, but his explanation is much more... succinct. "If he keeps it, I will bide my time. If he returns it to you, it means war."

And as with the other side, because the game would be pretty boring is Balgruuf was to go "sure, I accept Ulfric's axe", he rejects the axe and that in turn means that you return to Ulfric with his axe, and he expresses his disappointment that Balgruuf had done so.

The two Jarls wanted the other on their side, but their views were fundamentally different they couldn't accept. 😭Sending their axes was just a formality, a way of saying 'this is it, we have to fight now'.

So what I am basically getting at, the civil war quest establishes that giving an axe is a way of determining allies and enemies, depending on whether it is accepted or rejected.

Coming back to what I mentioned earlier, in order to do the civil war quest and to talk to Balgruuf in order to either give him Ulfric's axe or to give his axe to Ulfric, you have to have become the Dragonborn and are a Thane of Whiterun. When you become a Thane in Skyrim, you end up receiving a weapon as a reward, typically named 'Blade of *insert hold name here*'. Except in two places.

Whiterun, and Eastmarch. In those places, you get either the Axe of Whiterun or the Axe of Eastmarch.

If I remember correctly, the blade weapons are randomly generated so have the potential to be axes, but these two are specifically named to be and are axes.

What else is in common with Whiterun and Eastmarch?

Their Jarls (Balgruuf and Ulfric) are the only two people in Skyrim who actively partake in and have knowledge of the tradition of the sending of axes.

When you become a Thane of these two holds, you are not just becoming a Thane, you are becoming a trusted ally of the Jarl, somebody who they can rely upon. Even more so with Ulfric, because you can only become a Thane of Eastmarch with Ulfric as Jarl if you are Stormcloak aligned.

Speaking of being Stormcloak aligned, how about a diversion back to the Civil War, specifically when the battle for Whiterun has reached its penultimate stages, Balgruuf has been defeated and has surrendered control of Whiterun. After an argument with Vignar (and I'll get into him later because he makes my blood boil), Balgruuf turns to you and says a line which absolutely breaks my heart - "And you. A Stormcloak? I'd thought better of you." 😭

Balgruuf thought you his ally, he had given you his axe, and you have just gone and stabbed him in the back (figuratively, and quite possibly literally depending on character build). As I said, it breaks my heart when he says that line.

Basically, what I am getting at, is that the depth of such a simple tradition in Skyrim is immense and I wish that there were more things like it (beyond the duel to the death for the throne thing, looking at you Ulfric) or saw it used more in the game. And that Balgruuf and Ulfric are by far the best Jarls in terms of character development and just how much their homeland and traditions mean to them. And I wish that there was a way to keep Balgruuf as Jarl even if you are Stormcloak aligned because fuck Vignar, and you know what? Fuck Maven Black-Briar too, she sucks. Laila is pretty incompetent as Jarl but at least she isn't Maven and that's a rant for another time. But not having Maven as Jarl is main reason I join the Stormcloaks more often than not. Balgruuf is usually the main reason that I join the Imperials on playthroughs.

Now... Vignar Gray-Mane. When you make him Jarl of Whiterun and he names you Thane, he gives you the Blade of Whiterun, not the Axe of Whiterun (yeah, I know I said that I think the blade weapons can be randomly generated as axes, and no doubt it was given to stop you from having multiple axes of Whiterun, but I just don't like Vignar soooo....). That's mean. Especially after we protected the city and helped him become Jarl too. There's another layer of insult there if you've rescued Thorald, his nephew, from the Thalmor. At least Brunwulf Free-Winter gives you the Axe of Eastmarch when he is Jarl if you defeat Ulfric for the Imperials and complete that shitshow of a quest 'Blood on the Ice'. Brunwulf is a bro, not Vignar. Hmph.

[skyrim-forever]

when you're having a bad day

(sorry if this has already been done)

[foolofheartzz]

Start a new skyrim save.

[unknownhomosapien]

dragonborn in training

made mostly as ref for artfight so..

[arcanewonder]

respite.

[elderscrollsconfessions]

Confession: I once fus ro dah’d in Whiterun, and the guard confronting me about it scared me so bad I never did it again.

[your-fave-is-being-blended]

Delphine from skyrim

Delphine from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is being blended!!

You cannot save her.

[aaphra]

Skyrim Scenery 23/∞

[powdermelonkeg]

The DELIVERY on this line I can't. That growl is going to make me go feral. Well done @nevermorepjm, and well done @dynamite124. I think this might be my favorite so far.

[the-ace-of-fools]

Miraak kept silent. The stars glistened and his eyes glistened with them.

Time stood still.

[hircines-hunter]

WIP Wednesday

👀👀 hi I have Stormcloak brainrot

Gonna tag @umbracirrus @mavariel @thequeenofthewinter @madamefluffnstuff @vivifriend

@aureli-us @oblivions-dawn and anyone else that wants to do this feel free to tag me okay?

Dyrvina walked along the wall. Fog covered the inlet and bay, making the waters more treacherous than usual. Between the rain and fog, Dyrvina had a hard time catching any ship setting sail. And she could tell snow would be moving in soon.

Dyrvina heard yelling below her. The training yard stood below her. Several soldiers practiced against the dummies and few sparred with each other.

She heard Galmar screaming at them. Dyrvina could never be a soldier. She lacked that discipline. She started to walk away when she spotted Ulfric join the chaos below. He took off his coat and rolled the sleeves to his tunic.

Dyrvina leaned against the wall and watched. After a few minutes, the spar sessions went from one on one to Ulfric versus three of his soldiers.

Dyrvina wanted to get a closer view. But she hadn’t a clue how to get down. And she feared she would miss the fight.

She spotted a guard nearby and asked him. He directed her to a flight of stairs in a tower. She went down the stairs as fast as her boots let her. She pushed the door open and found herself in the training yard.

Dyrvina sat on the stairs and watched. While his soldiers tired out, Ulfric did not. He simply took off his tunic and continued.

Dyrvina’s attention was drawn away from Ulfric when someone sat down next to her. Galmar. He leaned back on the stairs.

“People say he’s grown lazy due to becoming Jarl. He fights the war from inside his Palace. A coward.”

Dyrvina looked back at the fight. “They would be wrong. I bet he could take on my grandfather’s entire guard force. Without the axe.” Dyrvina smiled. “He is anything but lazy or a coward.”

“Oh?”

“I’ve hardly seen them train. Not like this. But…. They’re also not fighting a war…. I mean…. Not like this.” Dyrvina frowned. She sighed. She went back to watching Ulfric. She watched the way he moved around the younger men with finesse and grace. The spar came to a stop. Ulfric stood there catching his breath. Dyrvina wanted to walk over—

“Here.” Galmar handed Dyrvina the Jarl’s tunic.

Dyrvina felt her cheeks burn. She took the tunic quite aggressively when she stood. She walked over with his tunic. She watched a bead of sweat trail down his back across his scars. She cleared her throat and stretched out her arm. Sweat beaded across the coarse hair on his chest. She stared for a moment.

Dyrvina gained the attention of the other soldiers and not just the Jarl. As soon as Ulfric grabbed the tunic, she turned around before he could say anything. She gave Galmar a glare that could kill and slammed the door to the stairs behind her. She covered her ears as she heard jeers and whistles.

Why did she do that?

Dyrvina walked up the stairs. She peered over the edge. Ulfric stood next to Galmar, clothed now. Galmar had a grin on his face. Dyrvina clenched her jaw. She found her way inside and to her room.

Dyrvina flung herself into the bed and groaned into a pillow. She cocooned herself into the blankets.

“My Lady?” She heard her maid walk in and shut the door. “Is everything alright?”

“That stupid general set me up to be embarrassed…. Why did I do that?” She groaned again. “Now they all think I like him!”

Maera sat on the bed. “What happened?”

Dyrvina sat up. “I was watching the Jarl spar with the soldiers. When he was finished, his General handed me his shirt. So naturally I went to give it to him.”

Maera opened her mouth. “Ah. The soldiers made a scene.” She smiled softly. “Well, don’t worry too much about it. They’ll probably forget by tomorrow.” Maera patted Dyrvina’s head. “Have you eaten? Why don’t I get you something to eat?”

Dyrvina nodded. “Aye.”