Falkreath to Dawnstar

A Survivor's Guide to Skyrim

by Verick Gaerford
Explorer, Pioneer, and minor Adventurer

Penned with the assistance of Carius Harmevus on this day, 16th of Frostfall, 4E 118


It has been said that Skyrim herself is more dangerous than any man, mer, giant, or sabrecat within her boarders. Any who have felt the biting chill of The Pale or seen the frozen corpses upon the steps of High Hrothgar can attest to this. She takes the souls of the foolhardy, brave, astute, and unprepared with equal, enthusiastic swiftness.

My aim is to provide you with guidance on surviving the trials of Skyrim's harsh regions. My hope is that you, dear reader, will avoid the fate of those mentioned above. Wisdom is your only weapon against the cold, so arm yourself with it on the following pages. Even with this knowledge, however, I cannot guarantee your safety; one can only be so prepared. If such a guarentee was made by the merchant who sold you this book, you have my sincerest apologies.

Now without any further deviation, let us discuss the subject at hand.

SKYRIM AND HER ENVIRONS

Skyrim is a nation divided into territories known has Holds. Each Hold has unique environmental characteristics that aid or hinder those that travel through them. They are presented here, in order of increasing harshness and unpredictability.

Falkreath Hold
The area surrounding Falkreath is a temperate evergreen forest with relative warmth and refreshing waters. Days are comfortable even at sun's height, and nights are mild enough that one is wont to go star-gazing when the sky is clear. This Hold is truly the most hospitable in all of Skyrim.

Eastmarch
While Eastmarch is cooler than Falkreath due to being farther north, this Hold is lined with volcanic fissures that discharge great plumes of hot steam that keep the area warm enough to occupy without pause day or night, year-round.

The Rift
This Hold is home to a sprawling broadleaf mixed forest in Skyrim's southeast. Though it is positioned on Skyrim's southern border, its elevation, tree canopy, and humidity make this area much cooler than it may first appear. While a clear day in the Rift is almost as nice as Falkreath, the rain with high winds can sap a warrior's strength faster than he cares to admit. The Rift's many streams and lakes are pleasurable to swim in on sunny days.

The Reach
The Hold of Markarth sits along Skyrim's western border and is identified by a great river that runs through a deep, sheer valley. The winds that roll off the western mountains and into the valley are chilly most of the day. The night air combined with cold showers may prompt wise travelers to build a campfire, or seek shelter. The Reach's waters are quite cold, but should not pose a threat if one is diligent enough to dry off once the affair is over with.

Whiterun Hold
The heart of Skyrim is a cold tundra dotted by what few trees can manage to take root through the permafrost. Farmers toil tirelessly here to break ground and grow what little they can in the inches of soil afforded them. A well-dressed Nord may not fair badly here, but those unused to the climate will find themselves uncomfortable at all times. At night, the high winds across the open plains cut through fabric and flesh. It never snows in Whiterun (contrary to its name), but the ground remains cold enough to freeze rain the moment it strikes the earth. Whiterun's chilly brooks are usually shallow enough to not worry of becoming completely drenched.

Hjaalmarch
The tundra marshlands of Hjaalmarch are inhospitable to the unprepared. The ground is almost entirely permafrost, and the northern bogs have waters that remain at or below the freezing point. Set up camp early, and do not stray far from it. If night or dark clouds approach, build or seek shelter at once. Never attempt to swim in the waters here; always find a land bridge or a way around.

The Pale and Mountains
The frozen wastes of the Pale are life-threatening even under the best of circumstances. Make camp often. Avoid nightfall outdoors. If a blizzard strikes, you are in grave danger and your survival is measured in minutes. Seek shelter immediately. Better to be a living cave rat than a dead hero. The sheer winds and breath-freezing air of the mountains will push your survival abilities to their limits and beyond. Needless to say, the Sea of Ghosts lives up to its name. The same goes for the icy rivers that run east and south of Windhelm. The great port city of Winterhold has an inn with a roaring hearth on almost every street, ready to thaw the bones of weary travelers.

SURVIVING FROZEN WATERS

Sometimes, even after having done one's best to be careful near Skyrim's tretcherously frigid bodies of water, disaster can strike; a loose rock resulting in lost footing, or a fragile plate of ice on a frozen lake. Suddenly, you are submerged head-to-toe in water only barely above freezing. The body will go through a series of actions that may be shocking to the uninitiated, but by reviewing what will happen should this occur, one can mentally prepare for the occasion. With mental fortitude and some luck, one may even live to tell about it.

First, your body will involuntarily gasp deeply for air. When this happens, you will feel (paradoxically) as if the wind has been knocked out of you, unable to catch breath. You will feel completely without any stamina for physical exertion.

Second, you will experience extreme disorientation. Blurred or hazy vision should be expected.

Third, assuming you have not breathed in a lungful of freezing water, you should have regained enough of your senses to be able to find a way back on shore. This is a narrow window of opportunity, only measured in tens of seconds. Do not waste it!

After getting out of the water, it is imperative that you make camp or retreat to the nearest inn immediately, as your body has already become dangerously cold. Many have saved themselves from a watery death only to die on land minutes later.

If for some reason you are unable to bring yourself to shore quickly enough, you will find your limbs difficult to move until they become so numb that they stop responding entirely. Drowning at this point is the most likely outcome.

CAMPING IN THE WILDS

A well-chosen set of camping supplies can make one's journeys far less burdensome. In the worst of conditions, they can even save your life. Here are four things no pack should be without when traveling throughout Skyrim.

A basic fire kit is by far the most essential piece of gear to have in your pack. Carry enough wood to build several healthy campfires, along with a block of steel to strike against a stone or to run against the edge of your blade to produce a spark.

A bedroll can be constructed out of tanned leather, and lined with ample amounts of cotton. This will allow you to sleep as long as necessary in even freezing weather as long as the skies stay clear.

A survival tent can be constructed easily out of spare animal pelts and long sticks. While simple in appearance, this type of shelter can make a huge difference when one is forced to outlast freezing rains and blizzards in open country.

Finally, a small cooking pot built of cast iron can play an important role in staying warm and fed from the game and vegetation you may find along the way.

FOOD FOR THE JOURNEY

Not all foods are created equal. Some are much better suited to helping the body cope with traveling in the cold.

In general, hot soups, stews, and broths should be consumed when traveling long distances across cold terrain. They provide warmth from within, which helps prevent loss of warmth from without.

Snowberries, which are a common sight in the northern Holds, have also been rumored to aid in fending off the cold. Travelers of the northern lands swear by them, even though there is no alchemical proof one way or the other. Whether these small fruit actually provide a real boon, or if it is just a trick of the mind, I leave the reader to decide.

A special note about every Nord's favorite topic, brew. While one may be quick to believe that ale and mead bring fire to the belly, many who turn to stiff drink in order to avoid an icy death only hasten it in the end. That being said, mental and physical toughness play equal roles in your survival. A quick swig of ale might be exactly what you need to give you the determination to make a last push to safety. This is a choice you will have to make for yourself when the time comes.


CONCLUSION

If you have made it this far, congratulations! You are now much more prepared for the cold journey ahead. I hope you have found my instruction enlightening. Although this author hopes that you never need this book, I advise you to take it on your travels so that you may consult it whenever such a need arises.

Stay warm! Stay dry! Stay alert!