Hidden secrets dot the landscape of Skyrim, ranging from interesting NPCs to easter eggs. Special items can also be found as you play, but these secrets also extend to Skyrim's massive variety of quests.
Even though there is little focus on the main story, it contains plenty of secrets and interesting information that is not apparent on your first playthrough. Some aren't apparent at all. The attention to detail on many of these missions and areas is why Bethesda games are so special. Elder Scrolls offers a sense of immersion and exploration that is seldom seen today. From unique dialogue to hidden quest objectives, here are 10 facts you didn't know about the main story for Skyrim.
10 Dragon Text Is Carved From Dragon Talons
Have you ever wondered why the dragon language engraved in walls was so jagged and harsh looking? It's because the dragons were using their claws to carve those letters into stone.
This isn't a fake language, either. There is a real alphabet for their language, complete with pronunciations for certain words. Dragons debate each other in combat to produce their breath attacks, rather than simply using magic to shoot flame. It is a nice touch that helps The Elder Scrolls series stay immersive.
9 Dragonstone's Purpose
One of the first quests you will embark on in Skyrim is finding the Dragonstone tablet in Bleak Falls Barrow. The exposition on it is rather weak, but it plays a crucial role in the story.
This tablet includes a passage of its purpose written in dragon tongue, professing this is where the dragon lords are buried until Alduin returns to revive them. Of course, the other side of the tablet shows every dragon burial site in Skyrim. The court wizard transcribes this on a map to a familiar face you'll meet later.
8 You see Delphine at Dragonsreach
When you return with the Dragonstone tablet, you will notice a hooded figure talking to the Jarl's court wizard. Did you know that he is talking to Delphine, a member of the Blades?
Trying to talk to Delphine will only result in her telling you to mind your own business. She does congratulate the player on their good work retrieving the tablet, but little else is said. Before you get a chance to question either of them, word of a dragon revival arrives and the player embarks on their next quest. Still, it's cool that the game foreshadows Delphine's letter to the Dragonborn.
7 Prophecy Wall Shows Every Elder Scrolls Game
When you get further along in Skyrim's story, you will eventually be presented with Alduin's Wall. This is an engraved wall that describes the plot of Skyrim and how Alduin will be slain.
What's interesting about this wall is it shows the main characters and plot points from every Elder Scrolls game. The very beginning shows Arena, then follows up with the main quest in Daggerfall, the rise of the Nevarine in Morrowind, and the Champion of Cyrodill who resolved the Oblivion Crisis in Oblivion. The end of the wall shows the Dragonborn slaying Alduin, which is exactly how Skyrim's main story ends.
6 Civil War Armistice Choices
Before the Dragonborn can focus his power on slaying Alduin and saving Nirn, he must first resolve the Civil War conflict between the Stormcloaks and Imperials.
If players have completed the Civil War questline, this quest is bypassed entirely and never occurs. However, those that didn't resolve the questline will meet with Ulfric and Tullius to divide land and cities between the two factions. The best part is it actually impacts the game! If you give Dawnstar to the Imperials, Imperial soldiers will wander the city.
5 Alduin Saves Your Life
The big baddy of Skyrim is the reason you are alive. Paradoxically, the main antagonist ends up rescuing the player instead of killing them at the beginning of the game.
The dragon that attacks Helgen and gives you a window to escape from—both metaphorically and literally—is Alduin himself. He uses his iconic meteor shower attack and all! There are clear moments he can kill you but chooses not to do so. It's not clear as to why this is, however.
4 Unique Alduin Dialogue
Alduin talks smack to the Dragonborn throughout the entire game, mainly when he attacks you at The Throat of the World.
He also has unique dialogue if he kills you, however. If you die during the final mission against him, if the game doesn't load too quickly, Alduin will proclaim his victory in Sovngarde and the end of days. Of course, you can just quick-load and kill him, but the fact Bethesda added this quip in shows a massive amount of attention to detail.
3 Sovngarde Ghosts
The three heroes you fight alongside within the final mission are well established. They are the three heroes responsible for sending Aludin forward in time in hopes of ridding him entirely. Obviously, they failed.
NPCs that wander the halls of Sovngarde are based on characters throughout the game. If you fought during the Civil War, most of the enemy faction's soldiers will appear in the hall from their valor in combat. Kodlak Whitemane can also be seen if you finished the Companion quest and redeemed him before he died.
2 Skuldafn isn't in Skyrim
While Odahviing takes you to Skuldafn Temple at the end of Skyrim's story, he doesn't take you to an area in Skyrim itself. He says it's in the high mountains in Skyrim, but that's completely false.
Skuldafn is its own location distant from the rest of the game map. If you save at the temple, it will list your location as Skuldafn rather than Skyrim. Also, if you check the map and see your location, traveling to those same coordinates in Skyrim itself will lead to an entirely different zone, showing that Skuldafn is instanced.
1 Jurgen's Horn can be returned
Jurgen Windcaller is a legendary Nord who was the founder of the Greybeards. You can find him in Sovengarde, but he is also the owner of Jugren's Horn, one of the first quest items players must obtain.
Did you know you can return his horn to its original resting place? After you clear the dungeon and talk to Delphine, you'll eventually be able to obtain it. Show it to the Greybeards and return to the dungeon where it was supposed to be originally. If you return it, you get a free dragon soul.