- For other uses, see Sovngarde.
Sovngarde is the Nordic afterlife created by Shor that exists in Aetherius.[1][2][3] Nords who have died valiantly in honorable combat arrive in Sovngarde after death.[4] Fleshly pain and maladies evaporate upon entering its Hall of Valor. Spirits here enjoy mead-drinking and contests of physical prowess.[2] Sovngarde is only for Nordic and Atmoran warriors—other groups have their own afterlives. For example, when Nordic Werewolves die, Hircine claims their soul for his Great Hunt just as he would with any other Werewolf, thus preventing them from reaching Sovngarde.
Legend versus reality
- "It is time for Nords to learn the truth. Eternal life can be theirs, without the need to spend an entire mortal life in vain pursuit of something completely unattainable. In the end, all valiant Nords can enter Sovngarde. Dismemberment, decapitation or evisceration seems a small price to pay for the chance to spend an eternity in Shor's wondrous hall."
- ―Bereditte Jastal[src]
Stories of Sovngarde have been told since the early Merethic Era. Since then, scholars have attempted to study Sovngarde, looking for tangible evidence of its existence. Many more paradise-seekers sought an entrance to Sovngarde other than the traditional mode—death. One such explorer, Rolf the Large, failed to discover Sovngarde after a lifetime of searching. Defeated, he returned to Skyrim, where he was slain by giants. After passing into Sovngarde, he wrote letters of correspondence with a psychic medium named Felga Four-Fingers, detailing the existence of this Nordic paradise of drinking and merriment. The letters were discovered in the medium's residence in Cyrodiil.[4]
Interactions
- "Victory or Sovngarde!"
- ―Common phrase used by Nords when in combat
The Dragonborn and Odahviing
The Dragonborn enters Sovngarde in the Fourth Era after setting Odahviing free in the quest "The World-Eater's Eyrie." In return, Odahviing carries the Dragonborn to Skuldafn, where a portal guarded by the Dragon Priest Nahkriin is found leading to Sovngarde.
Entering Sovngarde
Once inside Sovngarde, the Dragonborn discovers that Alduin laid a mist where he hides and feeds upon trapped souls to gain strength. The Dragonborn needs to gain entrance to the Hall of Valor by defeating Tsun, the Nordic god of trials against adversity, positioned there to test those who wish to enter the hall by challenging them to a battle.
Once the Dragonborn gains entrance into the hall, they meet with the three heroes who the Dragonborn saw in a vision of the past that showed the last defeat of Alduin during the Dragon War. The heroes, Gormlaith Golden-Hilt, Hakon One-Eye, and Felldir the Old are then permitted by Shor, the chief deity of the Nordic pantheon, to join the Dragonborn in the battle against Alduin.
Alduin's fate
The Last Dragonborn finally kills Alduin in Sovngarde alongside the three other heroes of Sovngarde, Hakon One-Eye, Felldir the Old, and Gormlaith Golden-Hilt. Thus, Alduin is banished from the world forever, although Arngeir and Paarthurnax theorize he may return in the future to fulfill his destiny as the World-Eater.
Werewolf spirit
Kodlak, the Harbinger of the Companions, dies as a werewolf and does not go to Sovngarde. The Dragonborn is able to mend this by killing the Wolf spirit within him after breaking the spell that made him a werewolf.
Known inhabitants
Name | Note | Condition |
---|---|---|
Felldir the Old | Ancient Nordic hero | Always present |
Gormlaith Golden-Hilt | ||
Hakon One-Eye | ||
Jurgen Windcaller | The Greybeards' founder | |
Olaf One-Eye | Former Jarl of Whiterun | |
Torygg | Skyrim's former High King | |
Tsun | Nordic God of Trials who guards the whalebone bridge | |
Ysgramor | Atmoran warrior and Companions' Harbinger | |
Erlendr | Turned to stone by Grimkell while on a quest to find Sovngarde | |
Nikulas | ||
Hunroor | ||
Ulfgar the Unending | The hero who defeated Grimkell | |
Ancient heroes | Generic warriors and mages wearing random armor or clothes | |
Stormcloak soldier | Generic male Stormcloak | |
Imperial soldier | Generic male Legion member | |
Ulfric Stormcloak | Leader of the Stormcloak Rebellion | The Legion won the Civil War |
Galmar Stone-Fist | Second in command of the Stormcloak Rebellion | |
Legate Rikke | Chief Lieutenant of the Imperial Legion in Skyrim | Stormcloaks won the Civil War |
Froki Whetted-Blade | Male Elder | Killed in his home |
Svaknir | Bard to Olaf One-Eye | "Tending the Flames" is completed |
Kodlak Whitemane | The Companions' former Harbinger | "Glory of the Dead" is completed |
Alduin | Nordic God of Destruction | Temporary |
Last Dragonborn | The Last Dragonborn |
Trivia
- Projected across the sky of Sovngarde are the three constellations: The Thief, The Mage, and The Warrior. They appear in the sky exactly as they appear in the Skill Menu, circling around a great ball of light.
- Spirits of Nord soldiers from the Stormcloak Rebellion and the Imperial Legion are seen to make the journey to the legendary Hall of Valor, signifying that Shor shows little interest in the earthly cause a Nord fought for; only in the bravery they demonstrated in their final moments.[5]
- Fast traveling to another place is not possible from this location. Entry and exit are entirely scripted and cannot be done more than once.
- Using the map while in Sovngarde shows the map centered on Riverwood.
- The statues of hooded and bearded men found all over the area will change their orientation to face the player when the player isn't looking directly at them. Furthermore, if Alduin dies close enough to one of them, it will crumble into large chunks of rubble.confirmation needed
- Sovngarde has many similarities to Asgard and Valhalla in real world Norse mythology.
- "Søvn" or "sov" in several Scandinavian languages means "Sleep" (as a noun), and the closest translation of "Gard" (gård in the Scandinavian languages) is yard, farm(stead) or garden. "Sovngarde" thus roughly translates into "a place for sleep," "yard/garden of sleep" or "resting place."
- Much like werewolves of Nordic origin find their souls belong to the Daedric Prince Hircine, Nord members of the Nightingales discover they are barred from entry into Sovngarde; as they are sworn to serve Nocturnal and guard the Twilight Sepulcher and Evergloam upon death. This is verified in dialogue options with Tsun, in which the Dragonborn states they are a Nightingale. Tsun will respond with contempt, proclaiming that for a Nord to have died while attempting thievery is not an honorable right of passage to Sovngarde, and that the Nightingales' "contract" binds their souls to the Evergloam. Similarly, Nords in the time of the Oblivion Crisis who swore themselves to Mankar Camoran find themselves in Paradise and not in Sovngarde.
- The phrase "Victory or Sovngarde!" is only used by Nords voiced by Michael Gough.
- Four of the Ancient Nord Heroes in the Hall of Valor (1 male and 3 females) reveal that they too are Dragonborn and are happy to see another Dragonborn in Sovngarde.
- Despite being a Nord, Katria will not be found in Sovngarde upon completion of "Lost to the Ages." DG