The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is a game filled with opportunities to perform and witness daring deeds and fantastical feats. However, it's also a game filled to the brim with bizarre and often hilarious glitches, especially when the title's thriving mod community enters the equation. One Skyrim player recently shared a short video of a weird glitch that appears to show one of the game's follower characters, Lydia, being possessed.
Lydia is one of the first followers available in Skyrim, which has led to her being one of the best-known NPCs in the game. She is a Nord housecarl obtained after the player completes the "Dragon Rising" quest, when she swears to protect the Dragonborn with her life. This isn't the first time she's been affected by a bug, but it may be one of the most memorable.
Reddit user Cator3 shared a short video that shows Lydia floating several feet in the air inside a building, her legs contorted under her and twitching erratically. The video begins by showing her tilted up and to the left, one hand in her lap while her other arm is tucked behind her. Her legs are shown moving as though she's trying to run while also sitting down. The result may be one of the oddest situations Lydia has been caught in.
An observant viewer might note that the position of Lydia's hands and upper legs make her look a bit like she's riding a horse. According to one user, that's exactly what her character model is trying to do. Apparently, the player installed a Skyrim mod that caused her to glitch--specifically, the “Horses for Followers” mod, which gives followers the ability to ride horses. Cator3 seems to have somehow triggered a bug that causes the game to think Lydia is still riding a horse even though she is clearly inside now.
As of writing, it appears that many other fans find this glitch absolutely hilarious. One user joked that Lydia must have found a copy of The Lusty Argonian Maid, one of the books that can be found in the game. Several other users noted that Lydia looked like she might be in space and compared her to an astronaut, while a second user stated that this was just a normal day in Skyrim. This isn't the only Skyrim glitch that sends characters flying into the air, but it's certainly one of the funniest.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.