InsaneJournal

01. What is the Elder Scrolls? - The Elder Scrolls is a console and PC-gaming series that started out in 1994 and has expanded and grown in quality over the span of 20 years or so. It started out with Arena, then eventually came Daggerfall, Morrowind, Oblivion, Skyrim, and finally Elder Scrolls Online. It is known mostly to be a free-roaming roleplay game where the protagonist character’s characteristics and appearance are left largely to the player. All of your choices in game have a consequence that molds your character’s story. You choose your own adventure though your character is often the “destined hero”.

02. What is Nirn? - Nirn is the planet on which the events of the Elder Scrolls take place. It has seven continents, much like Earth, but Nirn is much smaller than Earth and has two moons (Masser and Secunda) rather than just one as we do. Nirn exists in what the mortals refer to as the realm or plane of existence called Mundus. Along Mundus, you have Aetherius and Oblivion, the celestial planes of existence.

03. How do birth signs work? Why do they not use the signs from the Western Zodiac? - While Nirn is similar to Earth, they do not share our same galaxy or solar system and therefore they have different constellations. There are twelve constellations that are all assigned to a month, or their “season”, as well as an additional thirteenth constellation called the Serpent that travels amongst the others. The main three constellations are the Warrior, the Mage, and the Thief, and they protect their charge constellations from the Serpent. These thirteen constellations are the Warrior, Lady, Lord, Steed, Mage, Apprentice, Ritual, Golem/Atronach, Thief, Lover, Shadow, Tower and the Serpent.

04. What are the factions/groups in Skyrim and where are they located? My Dragonborn is the Harbinger of the Companions, and you can find their headquarters in Whiterun at the Jorrvaskr mead hall. The Companions are a group of warriors that go out and solve problems when the gold is good enough. They do everything from disciplining people by brawls, or rescuing random people from kidnappings. They sometimes even do animal extermination missions. No one is in charge of another, but they all respect their Harbinger. The Circle is the highest rank in the Companions with a hefty secret - all the members of the Circle are (or used to be) werewolves. Kodlak, the former Harbinger, sought to be cured before he died so he could join his fellow companions in Sovngarde. He did not wish to be taken by Hircine and spend his afterlife on Hircine’s Hunting Grounds. Earlund Grey-Mane manages the weapons up at the Skyforge and he is known for the best steel weapons in all the holds. If you are accepted into the Companions, he will forge a free steel weapon for you. First you must speak to Ysmir if wishing to join.

OTHER FACTIONS

• The Dark Brotherhood used to be one of the most respected and feared organizations in all of Tamriel. This shady organization is lead by Astrid, who is kind and caring to her fellow members. Arnbjorn makes the weapons there, and Nazir is an expert in One-Handed Weapons. The Dark Brotherhood is a group of assassins who fulfills the contracts that people ask for by doing the most profane of rituals : The Black Sacrament. The Dark Brotherhood does not allow just anyone into their small group, however. It is invitation-only. Potential members must have a taste for killing, and it must be noticed by Astrid. The Dark Brotherhood has two sanctuaries – one just outside of Falkreath, and another in Dawnstar. The Dawnstar Sanctuary has been unoccupied for a while, and both sanctuaries are completely inaccessible to outsiders.
• The College of Winterhold is an excellent place for anyone wishing to one-up their magical combat abilities. You must speak with Faralda at the entrance before proceeding over the bridge to the College. Here you can learn Illusion, Alteration, Destruction and Restoration spells effectively, as well as practice with other students and perform missions. Their Arch-Mage is Savos Aren, a Dunmer mage.
• The Thieves Guild is a group of professional thieves that call the Ratways of Riften their sanctuary. They use the Ragged Flagon as their main headquarters, which isn’t easy to access. The Thieves’ Guild will perform a number of morally-questionable favors in exchange for coin, though they prefer to not get their hands bloody. Currently, their leader is Mercer Frey though Brynjolf is responsible for the recruitment of new members.

THE CIVIL WAR

• THE IMPERIAL LEGION serve both the Thalmor (begrudgingly so) and the Empire. They are guided by General Tullius and their headquarters is in Solitude, at the Castle Dour. The Imperial Legion was responsible for an ambush party geared towards bringing Ulfric Stormcloak to justice shortly before Alduin returned. However, much of their activity is monitored by the Aldmeri Dominion, who have named themselves the current dictators of Skyrim, per the White-Gold Concordat.
• THE STORMCLOAKS are Ulfric Stormcloak’s followers. The title “Stormcloaks” was initially supposed to be derogatory, but Ulfric turned it around to wear it as a sort of badge of honor. After the Thalmor decreed that the worship of Talos was forbidden, Ulfric developed an army to fight for Skyrim’s freedom. He believed the Empire died the day they signed their treaty with the Aldmeri Dominion. Most people think he is a murderer since he killed the High King, but Ulfric insists that Torygg agreed to give up his throne in the old way. If Ulfric defeated Torygg, he would get the title of High King of Skyrim. Even if the Imperials agree the slightest with Ulfric, because of the treaty they have to arrest or kill all Stormcloaks. In order to join the Stormcloak Rebellion, one must go to Windhelm (to the Palace of Kings) and talk to Galmar Stone-Fist and see how to prove themselves worthy of supporting Ulfric’s cause.

05. What is the White-Gold Concordat? In the Fourth Era, there was a Great War. The Aldmeri Dominion was going to declare war against the Empire, but their “surrender” was negotiated by a treaty that heavily favored the Dominion. This treaty became known widely as the White-Gold Concordat, and it declared a few strict terms for the Empire – First, the Empire would give the Aldmeri Dominion a large sum of gold. Second, they would gain control over a large portion of Hammerfell. In addition, they would declare their ban of the worship of Talos, the Blades would be forced to disband, and the Aldmeri Dominion/Thalmor would gain the rights to track down anyone that disobeyed these conditions and discipline them as they saw fit.