The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim inspired many talented fans over the course of its existence to produce wonderful works of art, and the latest is a stunning pyrography rendition of Alduin, the main antagonist of the game. While his characterization as a villain left a lot to be desired, there's very little doubt that Alduin knew how to make an entrance in Skyrim and understood how to make his presence felt. Despite not possessing the most complex personality, these two factors made sure that people remembered Alduin after beating the game.
Unlike Dagoth Ur and Mehrunes Dagon, Alduin's introduction happened at the very start of the game, and the World-Eater had an intertwined destiny with the Dragonborn ever since that fateful meeting, culminating in a final clash within the mythical realm of Sovngarde. At its heart, Skyrim was the tale of a dragonslayer, and lakenbacon97 decided to capture the menacing visage of the ultimate prey by burning it onto a piece of wood.
The art of pyrography involves using a specialized heated iron pen on a wooden surface, and this rendition of Alduin truly makes the most out of the art form. It manages to impeccably capture the layered and angular design of Skyrim's iconic dragon without sacrificing any fidelity. The image was drawn using a stencil, and it's hardly the first Alduin piece that lakenbacon97 made – as her profile lists another smaller project featuring the World-Eater.
As Skyrim passes through its 11th Anniversary, the enduring love that Elder Scrolls fans have shown towards this multi-generational title is legendary. It remains in the limelight, with an ever-thriving mod community that makes breathtaking projects such as Skywind, and a dedicated community of players that still discover new secrets in its deceptively complex game world.
That being said, with Starfield looming on the horizon, Bethesda's focus is soon to shift towards developing the next Elder Scrolls game – following a rather premature announcement back in 2018. Not much is known about the project this early into its production, but the strongest rumor since its trailer has been the game's setting: Hammerfell, High Rock, or most likely a combination of both.
Many players assume that its story will feature a continuation of the Thalmor plot from Skyrim, mixed in with some Dwemer lore given their influence on Hammerfell's past. Though another dragon appearing in The Elder Scrolls 6 isn't out of the question, it's very likely that their focus will be left behind with Skyrim.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim - Anniversary Edition is out now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.