The Unbelievable Transformation of a Mundane Skyrim Task

Skyrim's side quests have always been a highlight for players, and one particular story that stood out was centered around a small family living on a farm in Rorikstead. While the game is known for its expansive open world and mods, it was the personal tales of the people of Skyrim that truly captured the imaginations of players.

The quest begins at Goldenhills Plantation, a location included in the Creation Club and the Skyrim Anniversary Edition. As the Dragonborn approaches the farm, they are met with an angry ghost attack, which leads them to discover the body of a man with a note suggesting that he was poisoned. This sets off the emotional and unforgettable quest, "The Unquiet Dead", which explores themes of tragedy, miscommunication, and ultimately delivers a powerful ending that has resonated with players long after completing the game.

How Skyrim Uses Environmental Storytelling

The narrative of what occurred at Goldenhills Plantation is conveyed to the Dragonborn through a combination of interactive and environmental storytelling. The player comes across scattered journals throughout the house, which paint a heart-rending picture of the sad events that unfolded. The father of the family, Urval, had aspirations of owning land and becoming a successful farmer alongside his wife, Jonquil, and their son, Rin. In pursuit of this dream, he purchased Goldenhills Plantation at a bargain price, despite the presence of enormous boulders on the land.

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Urval's unwavering positivity and focused determination on the success of the farm often clashed with Jonquil's practicality, resulting in heated arguments over financial decisions. Despite Jonquil's alchemy and potions bringing in significant income and saving Rin's life from a fever, Urval remained resentful towards her interests. The constant bickering between the two parents caused Rin to feel a deep sense of resentment, as he despised being caught in the middle of their fights. Despite being forbidden by his father to join the Imperial Legion and his mother's fear of losing him in the war, Rin nursed dreams of being a soldier and often practiced his fighting skills with his toy sword. In his journal, Rin records his decision to take up the challenge put forth by his parents and leaves his home to hunt wolves with his toy sword.

Skyrim's Small Stories Have Surprising Depth

As the news of Rin's disappearance hits them, both Urval and Jonquil are plunged into a state of despair and resentment. Each of them is convinced that the other is responsible for their child's death. Urval accuses Jonquil of poisoning Rin as an act of revenge, while Jonquil believes Urval killed their child to punish her. The weight of their grief proves too much to bear, and they eventually turn on each other. Jonquil creates a lethal poison and adds it to Urval's mead, which he drinks unknowingly. Urval then proceeds to attack Jonquil in her secret alchemy lab, killing her with an axe in a fit of rage.

The deceased family's fate rests undisturbed until the arrival of the Dragonborn, who unwittingly disturbs their resting place. The family's spirits awaken to protect their home, but the Dragonborn can put them to rest by locating Rin's body and toy sword near the well and returning them to the house. Once the items are returned, the ghosts of Rin, Urval, and Jonquil appear to the Dragonborn, expressing their gratitude for the kind deed and finally finding peace. As a reward, Rin presents the Dragonborn with the key to Goldenhills Plantation, which unlocks farming in Skyrim. This quest is particularly moving as it showcases the characters' humanity and the devastating effects of grief and miscommunication. It is a testament to the depth of storytelling in Skyrim, which remains a relevant game more than ten years after its initial release.

Skyrim is currently available on Xbox, PlayStation, PC, and Nintendo Switch.