Solitude (Skyrim)

Solitude, capital city of both Haafingar and indeed Skyrim, is the jewel of Imperial Skyrim. Ruled by Jarl Elisif the Fair, widow of the late High King Toryyg, it is home to the headquarters of both the Legion and the Thalmor. Part of the reason for this is the eminently defensible nature of Solitude itself. Set upon a great stone arch that towers above the mouth of the Karth River, and surrounded by the soaring peaks of the Haafingar Mountains, Solitude is both a reinforced and breathtaking stronghold.

Given the city’s name, it may be ironic that over 80 percent of the Hold’s population lives within Solitude’s walls, but this is testament to the city’s political importance, formidable defenses, and diverse population.

Home of the famous Bards College and one of Skyrim's chief ports. Watercraft from up and down the coast can be found at her crowded quays, loading timber and salted cod for the markets of Wayrest, Anvil, and Senchal. Founded during Skyrim's long Alessian flirtation, the Bards College continues to flaunt a heretical streak, and its students are famous carousers, fittingly enough given their chosen trade. Students yearly invade the marketplace for a week of revelry, the climax of which is the famous burning of "King Olaf" in effigy, possibly a now-forgotten contender in the War of Succession. Graduates have no trouble finding employment in noble households across Tamriel, including the restored Imperial Court in Cyrodiil, but many still choose to follow in the wandering footsteps of illustrious alumni such as Callisos and Morachellis.

Inns

 * The Winking Skeever is an inn on the left-hand side just after the main gate into Solitude.

Shops

 * Radiant Raiment
 * Angeline's Aromatics
 * Bits and Pieces
 * Fletcher
 * Solitude Blacksmith

Houses

 * Addvar's House
 * Bryling's House
 * Erikur's House
 * Evette San's House
 * Jala's House
 * Proudspire Manor (For Sale)
 * Vittoria Vici's House

Jarl's Residence

 * Blue Palace

Other

 * Bards College
 * Castle Dour
 * East Empire Company Warehouse
 * Katla's Farm
 * Solitude Sawmill
 * Solitude Stables
 * Temple of the Divines
 * Thalmor Headquarters

Purchasable property
The house in Solitude (Proudspire Manor) costs 25,000 Septims and can be bought from Falk Firebeard, after completing The Man Who Cried Wolf for Falk Firebeard and Elisif's Tribute for Jarl Elisif. When you have bought Proudspire Manor, Jordis the Sword-Maiden your housecarl, stays here.

Notable Figures

 * Addvar - Fish vendor in the square.
 * Ahtar - the Headsman and a family member of Jala.
 * Aia Arria - a member of Bards College.
 * Angeline Morrard - Owner of Angeline's Aromatics.
 * Aquillius Aeresius - a live-in boyfriend of Vittoria Vici.
 * Ataf - a Member of Bards College.
 * Beirand - a Blacksmith.
 * Belrand - a Mercenary which is staying at The Winking Skeever.
 * Bendt - Cook of Bards College.
 * Bryling - Female Thane of Solitude.
 * Captain Aldis - Captain of the Solitude guards.
 * Commander Maro (During the Dark Brotherhood quest line)
 * Corpulus Vinius - Owner of The Winking Skeever.
 * Deeja - Female Argonian in the Docks.
 * Endarie - Owner of Radiant Raiment.
 * Erdi - a Servant of the Jarl.
 * Erikur - a Thane of Solitude.
 * Evette San - a Wine vendor in the square.
 * Falk Firebeard - Steward of the Jarl.
 * Fihada - Owner of the Fletcher.
 * Freir - a Priestess of Temple of the Divines.
 * General Tullius - the General of the Imperial army.
 * Gisli - a Little sister of Erikur.
 * Giraud Gemane - a Member of Bards College.
 * Greta - Wife of Addvar and mother of Svari.
 * Gulum-Ei - a Customer of The Winking Skeever.
 * Heimvar - an Apprentice to Beirand.
 * Illdi - a Member of Bards College.
 * Inge Six Fingers - the Dean of Lute at the Bards College.
 * Irnskar Ironhand - a Loan shark.
 * Jala - Vegetable vendor in the square.
 * Jaree-Ra - An Argonian.
 * Jawanan - an Apprentice to Fihada.
 * Jarl Elisif the Fair - the Jarl of Solitude.
 * Jordis the Sword-Maiden - Dragonborn's Housecarl. (marriageable)
 * Jorn - a Member of Bards College.
 * Kayd - Son of Beirand and Sayma.
 * Legate Adventus Caesennius - An Imperial soldier.
 * Legate Rikke - An Imperial soldier.
 * Lisette - a Bard in The Winking Skeever.
 * Melaran - a Housecarl of Erikur.
 * Minette Vinius - Daughter of Corpulus Vinius.
 * Noster Eagle-Eye - Begger.
 * Octieve San - a Drunk and Evette San's father. (marriageable)
 * Odar - Cook of the Jarl.
 * Pantea Ateia - Master Vocalist of Bards College.
 * Roggvir - Death-row prisoner.
 * Rorlund - High priest of the Temple of the Divines.
 * Sayma - Owner of the Bits and Pieces.
 * Silana Petreia - a Priestess of Temple of the Divines.
 * Svari - Daughter of Greta and Addvar.
 * Sorex Vinius - Son of Corpulus Vinius. (marriageable)
 * Styrr - a Priest of Arkay.
 * Sybille Stentor - the Jarl's Court Wizard.
 * Taarie - Sister of Endarie.
 * Una - a Servant of the Jarl.
 * Viarmo - the Headmaster of the Bards College.
 * Vittoria Vici - a Member of East Empire Company.
 * Vivienne Onis - Niece and Assistant of Angeline Morrard.

Quest NPCs
 * Dervenin - a Servant of a certain mysterious master.
 * Varnius Junius - a Farmer who is asking for help.

Quests

 * Battle for Solitude: The final quest in the Liberation of Skyrim quest line.
 * Lights Out!: Extinguish the light in the Solitude Lighthouse for Jaree-Ra.
 * The Jagged Crown: Locate the Jagged Crown for the Empire.
 * The Man Who Cried Wolf: Check Wolfskull Cave for Falk Firebeard.
 * The Mind Of Madness: Enter the Pelagius Wing of the Blue Palace for Dervenin. This quest does not count toward the miscellaneous quest Assist the People of Haafingar (#/5).
 * The Wolf Queen Awakened: kill Potema Septim. Given by Falk Firebeard via courier message.
 * Fit for a Jarl: Model some clothes for the Jarl. Given by Taarie by speaking to her.

Miscellaneous Quests

 * Ask Aldis for information about Angeline's daughter: given by Angeline Morrard in Angeline's Aromatics.
 * Deliver the Stros M'Kai Rum to Falk Firebeard: deliver rum to Falk Firebeard from Sorex Vinius, who can either be found in The Winking Skeever or walking around town.
 * Find Noster's Helmet inside Steepfall Barrow (or another radiant location)(other locations include - Shodowgreen Carvern): given by Noster Eagle-Eye, who can be found outside Radiant Raiment. This quest counts towards becoming Thane of Solitude
 * Kill the leader of Broken Oar Grotto: given by Ahtar, who can be found in Jala's house at night. This quest does not count toward the miscellaneous quest Assist the People of Haafingar (#/5).
 * Kill the leader of Pinemoon Cave: given by Sybille Stentor in the Blue Palace.
 * Take Torygg's War Horn to the Shrine of Talos: given by Jarl Elisif the Fair.
 * Solitude Prison (Castle Dour) is the easiest way to gain the achievement "Wanted" on 360 and PS3 as the wall at the back of the cell is crumbling. Also there is another hole in the wall slightly further along with access to the prisoners belongings chest.
 * Talk to the innkeeper about letting Belrand off his debts.



Trivia

 * It is possible for a dragon to attack Solitude, even during the Battle for Solitude.
 * Solitude was originally designed as the seat of the Imperials in the province of Skyrim. As a result, the architecture was created to reflect the Imperial style from past Elder Scrolls games. The idea of building it on a land bridge came in early on production and remained one of the most unique features of the city.
 * Solitude has been home to many notorious and widely viewed as "mad" leaders, including The Wolf Queen and Pelagius the Mad.
 * According to "The Wolf Queen, Book VIII" in 3E 127 there was a Mages Guild in Solitude.
 * According to "The Wolf Queen, Book IV" in 3E 110 there was a tavern by the name of "Moon and Nausea" in Solitude.
 * Guards can go into the sewers through the man holes.
 * You can take an unlimited number of steel arrows from the soldiers training by the Temple of the Divines (they will shoot the targets repeatedly). Alternatively, you can pickpocket the guards when they are sleeping and take their steel arrows and replace them with any kind of arrow that you would like to collect.
 * You can actually sneak behind a guard (or at least be 90 degrees away from where they're looking) and shoot them with a bow from afar, they may threaten but they won't approach. This method increases archery and sneak skills. You can earn arrows faster too, killing only the ones roaming it is possible to earn 97 arrows. If they do approach, they will attack; you can kill them, as long as no other guard sees. If you have already killed him and another guard approaches, just sheathe your weapon. Though you may be hidden, if you are in their line of sight, no matter how far, they will pursue you. It only appears to be effective in this city.
 * Under Solitude, near the bridge by the port, there's a small door leading into the city, which is good for a stealthy entrance and exit.
 * If you choose to side with the Stormclocks and the Battle for Solitude quest is completed, Jarl Ulfric will be both at Windhelm and Solitude.
 * There are kill able hawks circling the sky above Solitude, although they are relatively pointless and very hard to kill with arrows or magic, the corpse may have either a hawk feather or a hawk beak, both of which are alchemical ingredients that can be used to craft potions.
 * After the Battle for Solitude, the Well opposite the general goods store will sustain severe damage having it's roof knocked over and fallen to the ground.

Bugs

 * Solitude may not appear. If Solitude fails to load you have to reinstall the game. Just delete the data and run the game again everything should reinstall properly. Note: This will not delete or ruin your saves.
 * The Thalmor Headquarters in the keep area does not contain any NPCs, despite there clearly being intention for it to do so. This is likely related to the inability to perform the diplomatic solution for Missing in Action.
 * Many of the NPCs don't appear when first walking into Solitude. Fixed by leaving and re-entering.
 * If you commit a crime and then drink an invisibility potion, and then choose the option to pay off your bounty, it is possible to end up glitched under the map.
 * Guards in Solitude may not respawn unless killed, allowing for the constant and amusing image of naked, unarmed guards roving about (if you take their items via the Perfect Touch perk) every time you visit Solitude.
 * When fast traveling to Solitude, specifically to the Blue Palace, a dragon body may appear right near the door of the palace. This also can be seen when walking to the Castle Dour and after exiting it.
 * After becoming Thane of Solitude, you won't have the option to flash your rank to the guards in order to get rid of a bounty (even though it is less than the limit).
 * After completing the Battle For Solitude, the icon representing Solitude on the map may disappear, making fast travel impossible. The Blue Palace still shows up, though.

Achievements
Einsamkeit