Changes: Skaal

Revision as of 03:46, 8 December 2018

SkaalVillageDragonborn — The Skaal in *The Elder Scrolls V: Dragonborn*.

The Skaal are an isolated tribe of Nords living in the northern area of Solstheim, in a village that shares its name with the people. However, they are culturally distinct from the Nords of Skyrim, especially in their faith.

Culture

Society

The Skaal are only a small tribe, less than one-hundred people, but there is organization within their society and there are several positions used for different purposes. Currently, the leader of the tribe is Fanari Strong-Voice.^[1] The First Hunter of the Skaal leads the hunters in obtaining food for the tribe. Currently, the First Hunter is Wulf Wild-Blood.^[2] The Shaman looks after the spiritual well-being of the tribe, protects the village from harmful magic, and closely guards the village's secrets.^[3] The current shaman is Frea, who stepped in to take her father, Storn Crag-Strider's place upon his death.^[4]

Tharstan of Solitude, a historian researching the Skaal, states in his book Children of the All-Maker that the Skaal population is dwindling.

Religion

The religion of the Skaal is one of the more distinguishing aspects of their culture. To them, the gods of most races are considered alien and unusual.^[5] Instead, they are animistic in nature, much like the Ancient Nords, while also revering a single-entity called the All-Maker.^[6] The antithesis of this entity is a being called the Adversary, whom they believe to be encompassed by many forms.

All life is considered sacred to the Skaal, who try to live in harmony with the land.^[6] They call this concept the "one-ness with the land."

For the Skaal, the All-Maker is the source of all life and creation. When a creature dies, its spirit returns to the All-Maker, who shapes it into something new and returns it to Mundus. The concept of death as an ending to life is unknown to the Skaal. Rather, death is seen as simply the beginning of the next stage of an endless journey.

Once, the creation of Stalhrim weapons and armor was considered heretical, as the ice was deemed sacred. In fact, at least three individuals are known to have been banished for it. Today, it is crafted by the Skaal and the secrets of this skill are well guarded by them.

Approximately a hundred years before the events of The Elder Scrolls III: Bloodmoon, a group of Nords left the main village to live the harsh warrior life like the Nords of Skyrim, disapproving of Skaal beliefs. They preferred to be able to kill whatever they wanted and worship in any manner they chose. They founded the Thirsk Mead Hall; its barbarian, heroic old Nordic tradition and society still exists, although the mead hall occasionally gets captured by native tribes. The folk of the Thirsk were never in conflict with the Skaal and some trade even occurs between the groups.

Interactions

Skaal Warrior Screenshot — A Skaal warrior in *The Elder Scrolls III: Bloodmoon*

The Elder Scrolls III: Bloodmoon

During the events of the main quest, the Nerevarine will encounter the Skaal and complete several rituals and tasks for them. Later, after being infected with Lycanthropy, the Hero will choose between curing themselves and help the Skaal village against several other threats or become a werewolf and join Hircine.

The Elder Scrolls V: Dragonborn

After starting the "The Temple of Miraak" quest, the Dragonborn will encounter one of the members of the Skaal tribe known as Frea. She can be found at the Temple of Miraak begging her hypnotized fellow tribe members to resist Miraak's influence. She will then speak with the Dragonborn and assist in exploring the temple.

After the conversation with Frea, one can gain access to the temple and can proceed with the quest. After completing the quest and freeing the Skaal from Miraak's control, the next quest will begin, The Fate of the Skaal. Frea asks the Dragonborn to accompany her back to the Skaal Village to talk to her father Storn Crag-Strider.

Upon entering the village and completing The Fate of the Skaal, the Dragonborn can speak with several of the other tribe members. Some may give additional miscellaneous quests.

Sources

↑ Dialogue with Fanari Strong-Voice
↑ Dialogue with Wulf Wild-Blood
↑ Dialogue with Storn Crag-Strider
↑ Dialogue with Frea after completing "The Gardener of Men"
↑ Dialogue with Storn Crag-Strider
↑ ^6.0 ^6.1 Dialogue with Frea

Appearances

[1] Dialogue with Fanari Strong-Voice

[2] Dialogue with Wulf Wild-Blood

[3] Dialogue with Storn Crag-Strider

[4] Dialogue with Frea after completing "The Gardener of Men"

[5] Dialogue with Storn Crag-Strider

[frea-6] 6.0 ^6.1 Dialogue with Frea

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 ===Religion===
-The religion of the Skaal is one of the more distinguishing aspects of their culture. To them, the gods of most races are considered alien and unusual.<ref>Dialogue with [[Storn Crag-Strider]]</ref> Instead, they worship a single-entity called the [[All-Maker]].<ref name="frea">Dialogue with [[Frea]]</ref> The antithesis of this entity is a being called the Adversary, whom they believe to be encompassed by many forms.
+The religion of the Skaal is one of the more distinguishing aspects of their culture. To them, the gods of most races are considered alien and unusual.<ref>Dialogue with [[Storn Crag-Strider]]</ref> Instead, they are [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animism animistic] in nature, much like the [[Ancient Nordic Pantheon|Ancient Nords]], while also revering a single-entity called the [[All-Maker]].<ref name="frea">Dialogue with [[Frea]]</ref> The antithesis of this entity is a being called the Adversary, whom they believe to be encompassed by many forms.
 All life is considered sacred to the Skaal, who try to live in harmony with the land.<ref name="frea">Dialogue with [[Frea]]</ref> They call this concept the "one-ness with the land."