The Elder Scrolls 6: Unveiling Thrilling Quests - Blood On the Ice and Beyond!

The Elder Scrolls 6 should include a diverse range of quests, taking inspiration from Skyrim's "Blood on the Ice" quest. Although unrelated to the main conflict, this mission is captivating and encourages players to explore one of Skyrim's largest cities. Its unique essence can be replicated in The Elder Scrolls 6, providing players with intriguing mysteries to investigate. This approach has the potential to greatly enhance future missions in The Elder Scrolls 6.

Set in the city of Windhelm, Skyrim's "Blood on the Ice" quest tasks players with uncovering a serial killer's identity following their latest murder. To prevent further victims, players must search for clues to locate the killer. While Windhelm is already a significant location in Skyrim as the home of Ulfric Stormcloak, "Blood on the Ice" offers players a reason to thoroughly explore and become familiar with the city as they take on the role of a spontaneous detective. Although not glamorous, like many quests in Skyrim, this cause is worth undertaking.

Skyrim's Blood on the Ice Tests the Brain Rather Than the Blade

In line with its mythical themes, Skyrim is a game brimming with enigmas, and Blood on the Ice is no exception. What sets this quest apart is that, unlike many of Skyrim's mysteries, which often remain unresolved or are steeped in ancient legends, players can uncover the truth behind Blood on the Ice almost entirely on their own. Wuunferth the Unliving provides minimal assistance towards the end, leaving players to handle the majority of the investigation single-handedly. As a result, completing this quest gives players a sense of fulfillment.

Another notable aspect of Blood on the Ice is its lack of combat. Given that Skyrim's storyline revolves a civil war, it's expected that a majority of quests would involve frequent battles. Traveling from one place to another often poses the risk of encountering thieves or assassins. However, Blood on the Ice sets itself apart by eschewing combat entirely, save for the final confrontation with the killer. The quest relies solely on the player's own abilities to complete it, disregarding their character's level or combat prowess. This makes it a quest suitable for any Dragonborn, regardless of their skills.

Blood on the Ice stands out due to its encouragement of thinking outside the box, a quality that could have a game-changing impact if embraced in Elder Scrolls 6. If players choose to immediately have Wuunferth arrested when prompted, the killer will continue to claim victims, requiring an additional hurdle to catch them. However, if players take matters into their own hands and confront Wuunferth, he reveals a contradiction and offers a solution to stop the killings that very night. This clever twist could serve as a challenge or reward for players in future missions.

While Blood on the Ice may not be action-packed throughout, it certainly leaves a lasting impression. Although the release of Elder Scrolls 6 is still far off, anticipating the series' future and how it can evolve is worthwhile. While most quests will likely continue to focus on dungeon-crawling and battling villains, incorporating more cerebral quests would be a welcome addition, particularly in the enigmatic realm of Tamriel. Therefore, Blood on the Ice could serve as a positive influence on the quest design of Elder Scrolls 6.

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is available now for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.