The Unseen Might of Markarth Guards in Skyrim - Prepare to be Amazed!
Unveiling the Dark Side: Markarth's Guards in Skyrim may appear ordinary, but a closer look reveals their corrupt and overpowering nature, making this city even worse than Riften Discover the secrets lurking within this city of shadows
Highlights
Markarth guards claim to have the safest city in Skyrim, but their boastful words should be taken with skepticism.
The guards of Markarth have ties to the influential Silver-Blood family, who hold authoritative control over the city's prison and financial matters. The presence of corruption could play a role in the guards' influence, enabling them to retain control and potentially manipulate the perception of the city's security.
The Markarth guards in Skyrim have an unusual habit of boasting about the safety of their city, setting them apart from guards in other cities like Riften who warn players about potential dangers and advise them to avoid certain areas at night. This raises questions about what makes the guards in Markarth so confident, and whether they possess a secret that gives them an advantage over even the most ambitious guards in Skyrim.
To get to the bottom of this, it is important to consult the Markarth city guards directly. However, one should be aware of their potential bias and take their words with caution. The guards proudly proclaim Markarth as the "safest city in the Reach," but provide no concrete evidence to support their claim. Additionally, they discourage the player from asking too many probing questions, further adding to the intrigue surrounding Markarth's safety.
Markarth, A City Of Secrets
The first impression of Markarth for Skyrim players is a conflicting one. Upon arrival, the Dragonborn immediately witnesses a failed murder attempt, with the guards swiftly stopping the perpetrator. While the guards' efficient actions are commendable, this scene gives the impression that Markarth is more dangerous than it appears.
In Markarth, it is no secret that criminals who survive are sent to the Cidhna silver mine for their sentences. The guards themselves inform the Dragonborn that causing trouble will result in being thrown into the mine, which serves as Markarth's prison.
The Silver-Blood Family
The situation becomes unclear from here on. The mine itself is under the ownership of the Silver-Blood family, who holds significant political power in Markarth. It is later revealed during the Skyrim questline "Forsworn Conspiracy" that the family's leader, Thonar, is using his influence to keep the Forsworn leader, Madanach, imprisoned. Thonar exercises control over the Reach's finances due to his ownership of Treasury House.
Even Markarth's Jarl, Igmund, chooses not to confront the Silver-Blood family. His advisor, Raelek, and housecarl, Faleen, suggest imprisoning the Silver-Bloods, but the Jarl dismisses the idea, recognizing the imprudence of imprisoning those who own the prison. It appears that this Jarl has little authority over his own city. This suggests that the city guard is heavily influenced by the Silver-Blood family.
Markarth Guards Are Corrupt
Possibly, corruption is what gives Markarth guards their overpowering abilities. They may be tempted to bend the rules if there is a motivation to keep Cidnha Mine running with free labor. It is not impossible that a corrupt guard would deceive the public by claiming that Markarth is the safest city in the Reach, yet there could be some truth to this claim.
One thing that distinguishes Markarth guards from almost all other city guards in Skyrim (except for Riften) is that they belong to the Soldier class rather than the Warrior class. Although Warriors generally have slightly higher weapon skills than Soldier class NPCs, the Soldier class has a greater stamina foundation. In a physical altercation, a Markarth guard could potentially defeat even their fellow guards blow for blow.
Markarth Is Worse Than Riften
If you compare the Markarth guards and the Riften guards on paper, they may seem evenly matched. However, upon closer inspection, the differences become evident. The Riften guards are known to be corrupt, going so far as to ask visitors to pay a "visitors tax" upon their arrival to the city. On the other hand, the Markarth guards surpass the Riften guards in terms of corruption. Markarth is not renowned for its criminal activity, and while the city faces its own problems, it can be considered safer in terms of regular criminal behavior.
It is apparent that the Markarth guards hold a hidden advantage, possibly due to their close association with the Silver-Blood family. As a result, they likely receive better funding compared to other city guards. They also possess a higher level of training and expertise, setting them apart from their counterparts in other cities and making them a more formidable force.
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.
