How much do we know about the Briarhearts? So far as I know, they are Forsworn, powerful enemies, and related to Hagravens. When searching for a Word of Power, the Dovahkiin encounters two Hagravens, with a Briarheart on an altar between them, in front of a dragonwall.

So, some sort of undead?

But what strikes me as curious is that Briarhearts have their hearts crudely cut from their chests -- which has some rather strong resonances -- and replaced with the briarheart.

To be clear, this seems an echo of Lorkhan, and also of Pelinal Whitestrake, who had a permanent wound in his chest that showed a red diamond where his heart should be. There may be a hint here, too, of an association with dragons, or at least the dragon cult.

Is there more we know of the Briarhearts?

But to mantle Lorkhan, your heart has to be cut out in betrayal, and with the Forsworn becoming a Briarheart seems to be an honor that the Forsworn willingly become.

What XxChaplainxX said. Yeah, there's the heart removal thing, but the thing too, is that a new heart is thrown in. Of course, it's an artichoke, but whatevs. For all intents and purposes, it's a new heart, only magical.

Briarhearts are classified as undead; but they don't behave derpy like regular undead; where regular undead goes around in monotone going "must kill" and all that, briarhearts don't have that kind of behavior and may engage in activities such as potion making.

Its probably something closer to like spiritual possession ? given how "The Legend of Red Eagle" describes it.

It has to be an artichoke. Then it would be an artichoke heart. heheheh

It's not like the first time Bethesda pulled one of those moves. Remember the Gnarls in SI that drop Gnarl Bark?

Or the BanHammer in Morrowind.

I'd forgot the Legend of Red Eagle. As I recall, that left it ambiguous whether Red Eagle had been entirely willing to undergo the transformation.

Again, it's not just the heart being removed. Pelinal had something in place of his heart.

I wonder what the pros an cons of becoming a Briarheart are. Do you get stronger somehow?

What about Gnarl Bark? I don't get it.

A reference to the band Gnarls Barkley

Red eagle seems to have become a briarheart willingly, but later came to regret his decision.

Briar Hearts give up the heart willingly, then get some magical artichoke that goves them more power. What manner of magic enchants said Artichoke? I have no idea, other than it being the work of Hagravens. They do seem to be more powerful though, judging by gameplay and lore

Certainly more powerful than regular necromancy its both permanent and doesn't turn its victim into a slobbering idiot .

In that case they are a true improvement over the normal artichoke which causes the former symptoms and bad gas.

I'm sure with most necromancers, they're not too concerned with making revivables who can carry a discussion, just someone to protect and serve the necromancer.

It seems to be a full Ressurection to me, not mere reanimation.

The soul is still protected by Arkay, seeing that it requires a Black Soul Gem to snare their souls.