By Hakem Kazaaj

Tamriel is home to many vibrant and rich cultures, all of which have a fierce sense of pride and honor. Inevitably, when one feels wronged by another war can erupt, revealing another thing we all share: the sword.

Yes, the sword is the weapon of choice from the beaches of Alinor to the fungal forests of the Telvanni Isles. It is a versatile and elegant weapon, and it is my aim to describe accurately to you the beauty of the many varieties that can be seen across this land.

Summurset

The home of the High Elves may have fewer warriors than most, but the tradition of the sword is alive and well. Used primarily for ceremonial purposes due to the stigma of physical weaponry as well as their military's use of conjured arms (considered more cost-effective) , the Altmeri blade is based quite faithfully on earlier Aldmeri design with both double and single-edged varieties. Typically they use an ore of sorts called "moonstone" sometimes forged alongside plain steel to form strong and light-weight blades of a golden hue, but I have also personally seen some of their finer smiths using imported quicksilver and glass. The blades often feature a bird motif with wing-like crossguards.

Valenwood

The Bosmer are a thrifty people, mostly out of necessity due to their people’s religious “Green Pact” that forbids the use of any plant matter from their home province, this has given them quite the mind for invention and it shows in their weaponry. Utilizing bone and chitin nearly every blade is unique in shape and size. Many Wood-Elves create weapons out of live-stock and pets after they die, and some will even ritualistically soul trap their dying animals and utilize it to enchant the weapon or armor they will become, this is seen as a form of tribute to the animal allowing them to serve their master for eternity. The Bosmer do import wood from other provinces and it is quite a status symbol for the wealthy to own things made almost entirely from it. Many important nobles or military officers have swords with imported wooden grips, traditionally Cyrodillic rain-wood, though this has become rarer as the species hasn’t been seen in Cyrodiil since the early 3^rd era and can now only be found in parts of Elsweyr and Black-Marsh.
Elsweyr

Kahjiiti swords are somewhat rare due to their species focus on a weaponless martial tradition and the large number of quadruped and diminutive breeds, and are rarely carried anywhere but the field of open war. They are quite dissimilar from other swords having a handle that is gripped horizontally, and have short but wide blades and are typically wielded in pairs. Most are iron or steel, with moonstone being used for ceremonial blades.

Black-Marsh

The swords of Argonia resemble long wooden clubs with sharpened bone shards set in on the sides. In practice it causes damage similar to that of a hack-saw and the bone-shards have a nasty habit of breaking off and becoming lodged within the wounds they cause. In addition the Argonians are fond of utilizing the venom of local fauna, which can cause paralysis or even death. In my travels I have seen malachite glass used in place of bone, and in far eastern Black-Marsh the wood is often replaced by a type of hard fungal chitin.

Morrowind

The Dunmer are possibly the most proficient elven Sword masters in Tamriel, and their blades are highly sought after. A wide range of materials are utilized in their forging process including chitin (from both insect and fungus, malachite glass, adamantium and of course ebony. The styling is quite far removed from traditional merish design and the Dunmer have taken influence from a vast number of foreign styles including Dwemeri, Orcish, and even Nordic. Due to this, designs vary quite wildly depending on region and great house affiliation, but the vast majority of them are highly decorated with flowing patterns adorning nearly every inch of the weapon. Many bare inscriptions of family names or mottos. Daedrically infused weaponry is also very popular here and more varieties of it can be found than in any other province in Tamriel.

Skyrim

The rugged Nords are often thought by outsiders to greatly favor the axe, and while this is often true the sword is still in heavy use in Skyrim. Usually formed almost entirely of steel with a simple leather, cloth or twine wrapping to assist grip, Nordic swords are often asymmetrical with protruding “spikes” and blades that curve outward near the tip to add weight and cutting power. Famed warriors and thanes carry blades that have been reinforced with quicksilver, which is abundant in Skyrim (especially in the far north) and is colloquially known as “Nordic Silver” to many people across Tamriel. The most amazing Nordic weapons however are forged from something known as “Stahlrim”. Often described as “enchanted ice” this freezing cold substance is said to have origins in Atmora and its use for crafting has been the subject of controversy. Some sects of Nordic religion forbid it to be used for anything but burial, but opinions have softened over time. Some Nords tell stories of ancient weapons and armor built from the bones of dragons, but these are likely just tales inspired by Nordic bravado.

High-Rock

The Bretons have never been famed for their weaponry, but their swords can be just as sharp as their wit. Typically somewhat thin and heavily tapered, its blade is suited well for thrusting and penetrating plate armor. Many of the finer blades are formed of adamantium, an ore common in High Rock (no doubt due to its proximity to the Adamantine Tower).

Hammerfell

Nowhere in Tamriel is the sword more important than in Hammerfell. It is the weapon of choice for any true Redguard, as well as an important religious symbol (especially to the cults of Leki and Onsi who devote their entire lives to the mastery of the blade). There are more varieties of sword in Hammerfell than anywhere in Tamriel and possibly all of Nirn. Curved blades known as scimitars based on traditional Yoku swords are a common sight in the Alik’r and coastal regions in addition to a sea-faring favorite: the cutlass. Yoku katanas are the most perfectly balanced swords in the world and can easily be distinguished from the Akaviri variety by the sharper curve and the greater length of the handle. Steel, adamantium and orichalcum (which holds special significance to the cult of Diagna) are the most frequently used metals, though Dwemerium weaponry is also common here with huge caches of arms having been left by the clan Rourken (it is inadvisable to attempt to find them however). The ancient Raga could sing with their swords, wreaking untold amounts of destruction, but this art is largely lost with very few practitioners left alive, if any.

Cyrodiil

The swords of Cyrodiil are simple but sturdy and versatile. In the west many weapons have a noticeable Nordic influence, though they never have such a frightful design. Straight tapered arming swords are common across the whole province, and while typically formed of steel or iron, I have seen Cyrodillic weapons of almost every material imaginable, likely a side-benefit of their central location and far reaching influence. One material that is quite common here, particularly in the northern Nibenay region, is Mithril. This is apparently created by hardening moth silks, but I have never seen it being made. Akaviri katanas are also widely used in Cyrodiil, since the time of Reman, especially by the Nibeneans who commonly keep them as family heirlooms.

Orcs

The Orcs are brutish and gruff but their smiths are highly skilled. They are known for their use of orichalcum for nearly all their weaponry. Orcish swords are typically serrated and curved, and are known for their ability to shear through chainmail and “chew” through flesh leaving deep wounds that become easily infected.