The Unforgettable Skyrim Quest That Must Shape The Future of The Elder Scrolls 6

Daedra artifacts are highly valued possessions of the Daedric Lords, who occasionally permit them to be used by mortals in Tamriel in exchange for completing favors. One of the most thrilling aspects of playing The Elder Scrolls game series is fulfilling these quests for the Daedric Princes and obtaining these artifacts, despite their potential lack of usefulness or eventual obsolescence. These artifacts have consistently played a significant role throughout The Elder Scrolls, with none being as renowned as Azura's Star.

Azura's Star is the property of Azura, the Daedric Prince associated with Dusk and Dawn. Her domain, Moonshadow, perpetually exists in twilight. Azura holds great reverence in Morrowind, even in a land where worship of the Daedra is commonplace. After the eruption of Red Mountain, survivors from Morrowind journeyed to Skyrim and constructed an incredible shrine dedicated to Azura, expressing gratitude for her protection during the catastrophe. Although she is considered one of the more benevolent Daedric Princes, Azura's wrath is not to be underestimated, as witnessed in Skyrim when her sacred artifact is desecrated by necromancers.

The Black Star Doesn't Give Incentive to be Good

Azura's Star functions as a permanent Soul Gem, unlike regular soul gems which are destroyed upon use. This unique feature of Azura's Star makes the process of enchanting and recharging weapons much more convenient. However, it only accepts the souls of animals. The Dragonborn discovers that the Star has been stolen and tampered with by a group of necromancers, resulting in a significant alteration to its capabilities. Further investigation leads the Dragonborn to Winterhold and Nelecar, a former member of the necromancer cult, who reveals that the artifact has been transformed into the Black Star. The Black Star now has the ability to hold the souls of sentient beings, such as humans and mer.

The Dragonborn is faced with the choice of purging the necromancers' influence from the Star and returning it to Azura, or keeping the enhanced version. Many players opt for the latter option, as possessing an unbreakable Black Star is a highly advantageous gameplay feature with minimal consequences. While keeping the Black Star is a popular choice due to its benefits, this quest provides little incentive for players to restore Azura's Star and return it to her, aside from personal roleplaying reasons. This is primarily because regular soul gems are abundant in Skyrim, and Aranea, the follower obtained by returning the Star to Azura, is not particularly exceptional.

Azura's Star Could Appear Again in The Elder Scrolls 6

Azura's Star is a truly iconic item in The Elder Scrolls series, often mentioned alongside other well-known Daedric artifacts like Nocturnal's Cowl, the Skeleton Key, and the Wabbajack. It stands out from the rest because it's the only one that requires restoration, making it a significant accomplishment to gain favor with a Daedric Prince. However, the reward for cleaning the Star, a basic level Star and a follower, seems underwhelming compared to the effort put in.

To enhance the overall experience of The Elder Scrolls 6, it would be beneficial for this quest to continue and give players context and motivation to choose to restore the Star, even if it's not the most strategically advantageous option. By providing both story and gameplay consequences beyond Skyrim, such as upgrading the Star to something more than a simple permanent Soul Gem, players who restored it would feel more connected to the world and the progression of the series as a whole.

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim - Anniversary Edition is available now for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.