The Jaw-Dropping Skyrim Quest Reward That Shatters an Unbreakable Elder Scrolls Tradition
Discover the intriguing lore of Necromancy in The Elder Scrolls and uncover the ultimate reward for completing a minor quest in Skyrim Find out why Arvak is hailed as the best horse in the game A must-read for every Skyrim player!
In contrast to Cyrodiil and Morrowind, Skyrim lacks a branch of the Mages' Guild featured in previous games of The Elder Scrolls series. The Nords of Skyrim have little inclination towards magic and generally view mages and sorcerers with suspicion. Nevertheless, each Jarl maintains a court mage, and the College of Winterhold continues to serve as a magic institution, operating independently from the Mages' Guild. This autonomy grants them freedom from Guild regulations. However, due to Skyrim's negative stance towards necromancy and magic, one particular reward from a Skyrim quest stands out.
One major distinction between the Mages' Guild and the College of Winterhold lies in their stance on necromancy. While the Mages' Guild strictly prohibits its practice in Cyrodiil and Morrowind, the College allows it within its premises, although discouraging mages from employing it elsewhere. Necromancy is generally permitted throughout the Empire, except for Morrowind where it is outlawed. Nevertheless, necromancers do not enjoy a favorable reputation in Skyrim; many are marginalized and even turn to criminal activities as they pursue their studies. As a result, most of the necromancers encountered in Skyrim are hostile.
How is Necromancy Used in The Elder Scrolls?
Necromancy, a type of Conjuration magic, is associated with the summoning of deceased beings. It is worth noting that there is a controversial faction within this field that utilizes Black Soul Gems to bring corpses back to life. These gems, unlike the regular ones, only contain the souls of individuals, implying that the necromancer has engaged in acts of murder to acquire them. Nonetheless, there are other forms of necromancy that pose no harm and merely involve summoning beings that were once alive to the realm of the living.
One notable example of such a spell is a reward offered in the Dawnguard quest "Find Arvak's Skull" in the Soul Cairn. Upon entering the Cairn, the protagonist, known as the Dragonborn, will come across a restless spirit desperately seeking their lost horse. The horse had fled from monsters and has been on the run ever since. Should the Dragonborn locate Arvak's skull, the spirit will impart upon them the knowledge of a spell capable of summoning Arvak. This spell functions effectively both within the Soul Cairn and in the lands of Skyrim.
Why Arvak is Skyrim's Best Horse
Arvak, though appearing like a lifeless horse, possesses remarkable loyalty, responsiveness, speed, and resilience against fall damage. The spell "Summon Arvak" in Skyrim requires minimal Magicka and is accessible to most Dragonborns, enabling them to summon him. Even if Arvak perishes, he can be summoned again, eliminating concerns of losing a horse in combat. It should be noted that utilizing Summon Arvak involves the practice of necromancy, effectively transforming the Dragonborn into a necromancer.
Necromancy carries an unfavorable reputation in The Elder Scrolls, but Serana and her mother devote a substantial portion of Dawnguard to persuade the Dragonborn that necromancy encompasses more than just murder and reanimating corpses. Arvak, originally a fearful horse who remained loyal to its owner, now seizes the opportunity to regain freedom through the Dragonborn's magical abilities. This perspective, similar to encountering Durnehviir, a dragon and necromancer, within Skyrim's Soul Cairn, expands the realm of possibilities in The Elder Scrolls.
The spell to summon Arvak is a valuable quest reward that enhances the lore of The Elder Scrolls, adds depth to the world of Tamriel, provides intriguing character development for the Dragonborn, and grants them access to a unique and highly practical spell. This quest reward is exceptionally well-designed, especially considering its origin as a minor side quest, and it would be beneficial to have more similar rewards in the future. With the hope of seeing innovative spells like Arvak, perhaps The Elder Scrolls 6 will deliver new and boundary-pushing magical abilities.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is currently available for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
