Milona Ottus’ Guide to Skyrim Series

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Introduction

My name is Milona Ottus and I hail from the Imperial Province. Like many Cyrodiils, I had never left my homeland until very recently. My husband was offered a notable sum of coin to travel from Hold(what the Nords call their counties) to Hold in search of business opportunities on behalf of the Varo Building Commission. After all, we were told, as the civil war began in Skyrim, the Jarls(Counts) would need the services of those prepared to rebuild their lands and settlements.

This series is a guide for anyone who have never visited Skyrim and consider doing so, or have to leave for the home of the Nords in the line of duty or business. Praise the Divines and let their wisdom guide you!

Riften

Mild Mother Mara! Keep our families strong!
My name is Milona Ottus and I want to tell you about Riften.

Riften is the easternmost city in Skyrim and capital of the Rift, a Hold known for its beautiful lake and forests, and oversees a passage through the Jerals that can lead you to Cyrodiil or Morrowind. Like all Holds in Skyrim, the winters are harsh and long, but surprisingly the summers are warm and forgiving here.

The first Cyrodilic city that comes to mind as one enters Riften is Bravil, for they are both almost entirely made up of wooden buildings and have a canol going through them. Though, it has to be said, that even the staunchest Bravilian patriot could not deny that as Riften is located much further from the Black Marsh border, the insects are a much lesser problem.

Alas, this is not where the similarities between these cities ends. As Bravil is home to the worst sort of criminals, so is Riften. Thieves, pickpockets and thugs roam the streets, harassing anyone unlucky enough to cross them. And it is commonly known throughout the city that Maven Black-Briar, Matriarch of the wealthy Black-Briar Clan, best known for their delicious Black-Briar Mead, has friends not only in the Empire’s Elder Council, but also among the Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood! Truly, it speaks volumes of the corruption in this city when a woman of such public stature can near-openly associate with such riff-raff.

Another of the city’s influential clans are the Snow-Shods, a clan made up of almost entirely of brutish rebels who openly support the would-be-usurper, Ulfric Stormcloak. One of the sons of the family, however, seem to be much more sensible. Asgeir Snow-Shod appears, by all accounts, to be disinterested in politics and inclined towards business instead, and he is engaged to the lovely Vittoria Vici, cousin of the Emperor and head of the Soltide chapter of the East Empire Company.

If you are to visit Riften, you have two options for where you want to stay; the Bee and Barb or what is crudely called “Haelga’s Bunkhouse”. The former is run by two folk of the beast races, Argonians to be exact, and is widely visited by almost all people in the city, honest merchants alongside thieves and thugs. The latter is run by two outwardly respectable Nord women, Haelga and her niece Svana Far-Shield. However, there are nasty rumors about Haelga that I will not repeat in print, while Svana’s lover, Sibbi Black-Briar, is in jail for murder! As if that was not enough, Svana told me that the patrons of the Bunkhouse can be quite frisky with the women who dare to enter. I am sure it is obvious to all which place is the better to stay for the night.

The recommended sight to see in the city is the wonderful Temple of Mara, which also hosts the local Halls of the Dead, home of the local Priest of Arkay, Alessandra. She is a Cyrodiil, tending dutifully to her task, and is rightly annoyed by the lack of willingness on account of the people of the city to help her honor the dead.

The sermons in the Temple are, sadly, tainted by the Nords’ primitive view of Mara, as the Tear-Wife to Shor and Handmaiden of Kyne. But should you be forgiving enough of their theological misunderstandings of who Mara truly is, you will find that the message given is much the same and a much needed voice in the present times.

The leader of the Temple, a man named Maramal, is a righteous soul who does not only speak his message within closed doors, but has the courage to seek out the sinners themselves in an attempt to enlighten them.

Across the canol from the Temple is the market, where merchants of all stripes display their vares. As this is a Nord city, you will not be surprised that there is ample access to weapons and armor. Balimund, the local blacksmith, is an abnormally skilled with steel, even among Nords, and is willing to share his skill if you can afford it.

The Jarl of the Rift, a Laila Law-Giver, seem to be entirely absent from the daily life of the people and her influence confined to Mistveil Keep. But perhaps this is a good thing, as she has thrown her lot in with the Stormcloaks.

May the Eight bless and save you!

Windhelm

Father Akatosh! May your Empire forever endure!
My name is Milona Ottus and I want to talk to you about Windhelm.

Windhelm was once the capital of Skyrim. From there the Nords once ruled the whole of northern Tamriel, and it is still the heart of the Old Holds. For those who have visited Bruma, the climate will be strikingly familiar. Even in summer Windhelm is white and as cold as the harshest of Cyrodilic winters, but at least there are springs of warm water further south in the Hold.

The place is depressing to look at, build entirely in dark stone and wood, and the Nords here at unwelcoming and suspicious of outsiders. The ones who feel this the most are perhaps the Dunmer in the so-called “Grey Quarter”, whose stay in this ancient city has had its ups and downs since they arrived in the aftermath of the Red Year. In the present times, it is considered little more than a slum.

But, like their treacherous cousins in Morrowind, these Dark Elves are stubborn as few, refusing to integrate into the city’s culture and show open hostility to the local population and their ruler. While some of them seem to have come from Hlaalu families, few of them have taken to heart the Imperial value of integrating with new cultures. And, if I am to be bold, I would say that the if the Grey Quarter is as it is after the Dunmer have lived there for nearly two centuries, they do not live up to the Imperial virtues of hard work and diligence. Crime run rampant there and I advise all visitors to give it a wide berth.

The other sights of the city include the Palace of Kings, the Market, the Docks, the Temple and Candlehearth Hall.

The Docks is found on the eastern side of the city and is the home of a chapter of the East Empire Company, as well as the Shatter-Shield shipping industry. In true Imperial fashion, the local Nords taking up the competition for customers is pleasing to Zenithar, driving prices down and quality up for both companies. In truth, given the state of the East Empire Company Warehouse, I will have to commend the Shatter-Shields for their efforts as entrepreneurs. But I would not recommend that you visit the docks unless you have business with the warehouses or want to arrange passage by water, for the docks are also overrun by Argonians, not all of whom are discreet about their illegal habits regarding the cargo of the ships. How these beast folks have not been arrested yet is hard to imagine.

The Market is to the west and here market stalls and shops are set up to create a little trading hub. Dunmer, Altmer and Nords sell their wares side by side. If there were another smith(at least that I could find), I would recommend them over Ongmund War-Anvil, for he is a staunch supporter of the Stormcloak Rebellion, as is his apprentice. However, his wares are of good quality as most Nord metalwork is(their barbaric need for constant fighting is the reason for this, I’m sure) and if you are in desperate need for a smith’s service we will understand your choices in visiting him.

More famous of merchants in Windhelm(probably not among Nords though), is Nurelion, owner of the White Phial. For those unversed in the alchemical societies, Nurelion is a man who has tried to find the legendary White Phial of Curamil, an ancient alchemist supposedly from Skyrim. It is said to be able to replenish any potion put in it!

If you need a place to stay, Candleharth Hall is your best bet, the only other being located in the Grey Quarter. The owner is a Nord, and so is most of the staff, and they are welcoming enough as far as the Nords of Windhelm go. But be careful about bringing up politics.

Thus far I have only briefly touched on the Sotmrcloak Rebellion and intentionally so. Any true scholar should try to be objective as far as they can, keeping the politics of the day out, but that is impossible if one is to give a full tour of Windhelm, for both the Palace of Kings and the Temple of Talos play part in the rebellion.

I find myself split on the issue of the Temple, for were it not for the severe theological shortcomings(see “The Talos Mistake” by Leonara Venatus) displayed by the Eastmarch Nords, I would commend them for their refusal to give up the gods. Alas, such stubbornness regarding heathen and superstition must, however virtuous in origin, be condemned.

And so we come to the Palace of Kings, once home of Ysgramor, whom even Imperials can say was a great king as he established the first human-dominated society on Tamriel, but now the home of a traitor and warmonger; Ulfric Stormcloak, veteran of the Imperial Army, Bear of Markarth and cold-blooded assassin. He killed the High King Torygg and call upon a supposed right for the Moot to be called. The Moot will be called, yes, but not before the traitor can no longer pretend to have the rights of a Jarl and attend. His place is either behind bars for the rest of his life, or at the business end of a headsman’s axe.

May the Eight bless and save you!

Whiterun

Kynareth, Dear Goddess of Nature! Bless us as we traverse your domain and let our harvest be full!
My name is Milona Ottus and I want to tell you about Whiterun!

Whiterun sits as a jewel in the middle of the Whiterun tundra, the steppes occupying the center of Skyrim. Many farms dot this hold, around the capital and in Roriskstead to the west, and the traders are prosperous as their fair Hold lies at the center of nearly every route through the province. Here the locals are friendly(as far as Nords go) and there is a healthy population of non-Nords among its people. Why, the Jarl even employs a Dark Elf Housecarl and an Imperial Steward!

As welcoming as I found Whiterun, I am sad to say I have to point out that the outer walls of this city could do with much work. My husband offered gracious terms for their restoration to the Steward, the Jarl unable to grant us an audience at the time, and he said he would consider it.

The city is divided into three plateaus, or districts, and the first to greet you as you enter Whiterun is where most merchants are found: The Plains District. Warmaiden’s, a smithy owned by Ulfberth War-Bear and Adrianne Avenicci, is located just inside the city gates. She is a skilled smith, but if you have the money, I recommend going up to Jorrvaskr and speaking to Eorlund Grey-Mane at the Skyforge. His familial allegiance to the Stormcloaks aside(luckily he himself seem unconcerned with politics), he is widely regarded as the best smith in all of Skyrim!

From here you can go into the market proper, where you will find a fair assortment of wares on display both in the stalls and in the shops. Here you will also find The Bannered Mare, an inn run by a friendly woman named Hulda. The drinks are good and the bard is charming(though my husband didn’t seem to like him) and talented.

As you move up from the market and into the Wind District, you will be reminded of Chorrol. In the center of the city there is a great tree called the Gildergreen, heart attraction the Temple of Kynareth has to offer. While tall and mighty, it was unfortunately not in the best state when we visited. I inquired with Danica Pure-Springs, the head priestess and a renowned healer, and she said that it had suffered a lightning strike recently.

The Temple of Kynareth, sadly, did not offer sermons when we visited, but this should not be held against them. They spent their time tending to the wounded and sick, unfortunate victims of this senseless rebellion and should be applauded for their dedication to action over words. Alas, I can not say the same thing about the Priest of Arkay in the city. He was rude and refused to let us into the Halls of the Dead to pay our respects to the God of Death and Burials.

Opposite of the Temple of Kynareth lies the mighty hall of Jorrvaskr, home of the Companions, made from an old longship said to have come with Ysgramor himself! They are warriors for hire held in high esteem all across Skyrim and stays neutral in the conflict over the High Throne in Skyrim. Among their number are some of Skyrim’s most skilled masters-at-arms. While they have no official leader, the Harbinger and a small circle of advisors manage the contracts and daily affairs of the group.

In the Wind District you will also find the majority of the homes in the city and, besides the Jarl’s and Companion’s, there are two families whose words are heard louder than all others; Clan Battle-Born and Clan Grey-Mane.

The Battle-Borns are a rich family, well established in farming and openly support the Empire. Idolaf Battle-Born assumes responsibility to help the Empire by securing the aid of Adrianne Avenicci, and fights on behalf of the Legion. A citizen we should all look up to in these times of need.

The other noteworthy Clan in Whiterun is not as virtuous. The Grey-Manes openly support the Stormcloak rebellion, and they are, naturally, uncivilized, pelt-wearing axedraggers living in the past, and there is nothing more to say about that. That the Companions accept them into their ranks is surprising.

The Cloud District sits atop the city, home to the Jarl’s palace of legend; Dragonsreach. All serving in the palace are required to memorize the story of its building, when the Jarl Olaf One-Eye had it made to house a captive dragon. A skull that does indeed match the appearance supposed of these mythical creatures hang above the Jarl’s throne, but the story should be considered with care. Who can say how it got there in the thousands of years since Olaf lived?

Jarl Balgruuf the Greater of Whiterun is, by all accounts, a competent ruler and have managed to keep Whiterun neutral territory. While I think he should declare his loyalty to the Empire openly, I can understand his wish to keep his people free of the war as best he can. But I do wish he would better enforce the ban on Talos. Imagine, a man calling himself Heimskr, marring the first pleasant visit I have had in this land, harassed me and everyone else within shouting distance with his theological shortcoming.

May the Eight bless and save you!

Markarth

Sweet Dibella, Lady of Love! Show us compassion in these dark times!
My name is Milona Ottus and I want to tell you about Markarth.

I don’t want anyone to come out of this entry with a mistaken image, so let me say something very clearly up front: Don’t go to Markarth, or even the Reach, if you can avoid it. Ever. There is nothing in the city that can redeem its people!

The first reason not to go to Markarth is the Reachmen, the murderous barbarians who now call themselves the Forsworn. They murder those who dares to travel the crags of the Reach indiscriminately, even if they are not the Nords who wronged them. They consort with vile Hagravens and I’ve been told they even replace the hearts of some of their warriors with plant-like things. They attack inside the city too! Their behavior shows that Tiber Septim did not go far enough in beating these people down, nor did Ulfric Stormcloak. If he was to endanger the Empire’s treaty with the Dominion, he could at least have done the job properly, so these mongrels would stay put and perhaps eventually become a tad more civilized, though I doubt that since they can’t have improved much since the time of Tiber Septim.

The second reason not to go to Markarth is everyone else. The Nords here make even the most hardened jerks from Eastmarch seem like welcoming gentlemen. So do the Bretons and Imperials and Orcs too. I think it is something in the air or water here that puts everyone on the edge of hostility right from the start. The guards are thugs more concerned with keeping travelers on their toes than doing anything about this Forsworn problem. A family that is constantly fighting and letting this affect their customer service staffs the Silver-Blood Inn. They even have stone beds! How are people supposed to have a night’s sleep like that? Not like they care, because the only other option available is to shiv someone in a Reachman slum called the Warrens and take their bed.

A man who identifies himself as Yngvar the Singer walks the streets, harassing locals and visitors alike, shaking people down and openly associates himself as an employee for Clan Silver-Blood. The Silver-Bloods are one of those Nord Clans that have influence in their Hold and these more than most. They own a great deal of farmland. They own the silver mines in the south of the city and have the Jarl send them prisoners for free labor, or they use Reachmen down on their luck, putting an Orc brutal even for his kind in charge of keeping them in line. They seem to own the guards too. They operate out of something simply called the Treasury House.

If you need to buy something, you will find a few stalls and shops by the gate(I bet they wouldn’t get any business if the customers couldn’t leave as soon as they were done), or you can visit a reasonably polite(for Markarth’s standards) Orc by the smelters(make sure to not go to the wrong one!) for a smith. I think I saw a potion’s store there too, but I refused to enter in fear of being stabbed once I heard a Reachwoman owned it.

If you are devout in the Dibellan Arts, they have a Temple dedicated to the Goddess of Love, but it seems to be a perverse six cult more than devotion to all the nuanced beauties the Dibellan faith can offer. There is also a long abandoned Talos temple in this city, because it wouldn’t be complete without such heresy on top of everything else as the worst city in Tamriel.

The city is made in an unusual style, much akin to that of the Dwemer ruins one can sometimes find across the lands of Skyrim, Hammerfell and Morrowind. According to most scholars Markarth was originally their city, though I wish it had disappeared along with its creators. Apparently this city is so unique that it attracted Calcelmo, one of the leading figures in Tamriel on understanding the Dwemer, but I somehow doubt he enjoys living in this gods-forsaken place.

Calcelmo is living in Understone Keep, along with the Jarl and the Halls of the Dead. The Priest of Arkay was friendly enough, but was sorry to say that the Halls of the Dead were closed for the time being. The Jarl was uninterested in a Building Commission, sending us away without so much as a “I’ll consider your offer”. But at least he seemed to want to fight the Reachmen.

May the Eight bless and save you! (Especially if you have to go to the Reach!)

Solitude

Blessed Divines! Hold our Hearts with courage and our Wills strong!
My name is Milona Ottus and I want to tell you about Solitude.

Solitude is a wealthy port-city at the north-western coast of Skyrim and the capital of Haafingar Hold. Traditionally the Blue Palace is the home of the High Kings and Queens of Skyrim under the Empire and the center of Imperial power in Skyrim. With strong ties to the Empire, the city has prospered and is a shining beacon of what a provincial city can be. But beware its history, for it shows the dangers of a Solitude unchecked.

The ruler of Haafingar is the lovely Jarl Elisif, who more than lives up to her nickname “the Fair”. She is new to the throne, ascending to its responsibilities after the assassination of her husband, the High King Torygg, waiting for the time the Moot will come together and elect her to her rightful place as the High Queen of Skyrim. Because she is still grieving her husband, she leaves much of the work to her court, which consists of Falk Firebeard, Steward of Solitude, and the Thanes, Erikur and Bryling.

But we are now in the inner parts of the city. Let me start over from the gate. Outside of the Solitude walls, you will find a large dock. Here you find a East Empire Company headquarters in Skyrim, overseen by Vittoria Vici herself, cousin of the Emperor Titus Mede II. Earlier in this series, I covered her fiancé, Asgeir Snow-Shod of Riften.

Just inside of the gates, you will find a selection of stores, including the excellent Radiant Raiment, an outfitter specializing in fine garments worthy of nobility. The Winking Skeever, while having an uninviting name, is an excellent inn with a friendly Imperial staff.

Next from the markets come the staunch Castle Dour, home to the Imperial Legion and the Temple of the Divines in Skyrim, as well as the Solitude Guard. Here all soldiers are trained in the arts of the Legionnaire to ensure that Haafingar remains safe even in these times of strife under the supervision of the hard-nosed Legion Captain, Aldis. General Tullius, leader of the loyalist forces in Skyrim, also resides in Castle Dour, working diligently with Legate Rikke to put down the rebellion and restore Skyrim to its proper order.

Outside of the Legion and Guard grounds, you will find the Solitude smith, but you may be unable to get your steel repaired or make a commission, as he is hard at work swinging hammer for the Imperial Legion. If you do get some of his time, you will not be disappointed, however, as he is talented at what he does.

The Temple of the Divines is the only temple in Skyrim dedicated to the Eight as a collective and is overseen by High Priest Rorlund, but his duties as the spiritual guide for the people as a whole keep him quite occupied and any questions should be put to his wife, Freir, instead. She is polite and knowledgeable, well suited to guide individuals to the embrace of the Eight. Later this year, it will be the location of the wedding between Vittoria Vici and Asgeir Snow-Shod.

Beyond the market and Castle Dour you will find most homes in the city, as well as the fabled Bard’s College. Here applicants from all over the Empire arrive to learn the arts of song and instrument. If you are lucky, you will arrive in time for the Burning of King Olaf festival.

And so we come back to the Blue Palace and home of the court of Solitude. While Solitude has a long history of being friends of the Empire, its most famous ruler was none other than the Wolf Queen, Potema Septim. Less known is, perhaps, that Pelagius the Mad was Jarl of Solitude and High King of Skyrim prior to his ascension to the Imperial Throne.

May the Eight bless and save you!

Minor Holds

The major cities of Skyrim covered, I wish to dedicate this entry to the remaining Hold capitals, who by themselves are too small to be afforded an entry.

Winterhold
Winterhold is a place of little note these days. The Great Collapse destroyed much of the city and it has yet to recover from this, but the College of Winterhold remains. If you are looking for a magical education, the College comes well recommended according to a few mages I have ran into in my time in Skyrim, though it is remotely located.

The Jarl of Winterhold support the rebellion, but the College is neutral to everything happening outside their walls.

Dawnstar
Dawnstar is the poorest of the port-cities in Skyrim, serving mostly as a stopping point between Windhelm and Solitude. However, its mines have kept it on the map. Jarl Skald the Elder supports the Stormcloak rebellion.

Falkreath
The Graveyard of Skyrim, this place is sometimes called. The town is gloomy and the local Priest of Arkay believes this is because Arkay has a strong influence over the place. The people are, for the most part, friendly, but don’t bother asking for an audience with the Jarl. Jarl Siddgeir is very open about not really ruling his Hold, leaving that duty to his Steward. Siddgeir remains loyal to the Empire, unlike his uncle, Dengeir.

Morthal
In the fetid swamps of Hjaalmarch you will find a humble little town, serving as the home of the Jarl of the Hold. Besides its name, supposedly coming from the hero Morihaus, there is little of note here. Jarl Igrod Ravencrone is rumored to be gifted with visions of the future, but I would not put my stock in such claims.

May the Eight bless and save you!