As the name implies, Eastmarch is among the most eastern holds of Skyrim. It encompasses the areas around Windhelm and some of the southern parts that sit side by side with the Rift, its neighboring hold. Eastmarch is where Nordic culture meets Dwemer dungeons, as well as giant and mammoth camps.
With how much the terrain changes from Windhelm's snowy city to the temperate low lands of the rest of Eastmarch, it's definitely an interesting location. You might find yourself just passing through, but there are some cool details that are worth visiting just to see with your own eyes.
10 The Two Farms Have Fireplaces But No Chimneys
Right outside of Windhelm, there are two farms. Hlaalu and Hollyfrost Farm somehow manage to make things work despite the extreme weather conditions that plague this area. Thankfully, the farmers themselves have a nice warm home to return to, and a fireplace to sit by.
The problem is, despite both houses having fireplaces, neither of them have chimneys. This is either a joke by Bethesda, or just a bit of an oversight on their part as they finished the game and tried to ensure most locations made sense.
9 The Hidden Location Of A Flawless Diamond
When talking about the best loot in Skyrim, there's one ground rule to follow: prioritize small but valuable objects. Gems and accessories are some of the best items to take back from a dungeon and sell for a good price.
Those looking for valuable gems should head to Stony Creek Cave. On one of the arches, the second last one, there's actually a flawless diamond on top of it. The only way to access it is to either use telekinesis, or to shout it off with Unrelenting Force.
8 The Nameless Dunmer
With how big Skyrim ended up being, it's a surprise how much content was actually cut off. To this day, fans still keep finding new, interesting details within the world that could have potentially served a greater purpose.
One mystery is the Dunmer of Cragslane Cavern, found at its entrance. He can't be looted, even when resurrected from the dead and then killed again. The weirdest part, however, is that he has no name below his health bar.
7 An Uncommon Item At Gallows Rock
Uncommon items in Skyrim aren't always items that are necessarily useful for the player, or items they can directly interact with. Sometimes, they're just decorative items that are quite hard to find and only appear in a select few locations in the world.
One example of such an item is the torture tools set. They can be found at three different locations only, one of which is Gallows Rock in Eastmarch, next to a dead werewolf. They stick out from the rest of the clutter and look quite intimidating.
6 The Status Of The Giant At Steamcreg Camp
Giants have known to be passive and generally peaceful beings. Throughout the history of Skyrim, they've never been dragged into politics and have only once allied themselves to the Dwemer years ago. As such, Imperial laws are protective of them.
This is also the case for the giant at Steamcreg Camp. A notice nearby will state that citizens should leave the giant alone. And yet, the Jarl might actually send you to kill this very same giant for a bounty. This might just be another developer oversight.
5 Darkwater Pass Has Unusual Enemies
Falmer, the some of the most terrifying enemies in the game, are real nightmare fuel. Luckily, players will usually find out pretty soon from their surroundings if they're at risk of running into a bunch of them in a dungeon or cave. Falmer tend to inhabit Dwemer ruins only.
The big exception to this rule is Darkwater Pass, which has a distinctively Nordic architecture. Despite that, Falmer are in abundance in this area, making it quite a unique experience for the player.
4 Riverside Shack Is Great For Storage
It might take a while to get your first home in Skyrim. The Breezehome is sold at 5000 gold, but this isn't an amount every player can sink into a house early on in the game. That's why finding alternatives and temporary solutions is key.
The Riverside Shack in Eastmarch is perfect for this purpose. While storing in its chest isn't a safe option, the wardrobe of the shack is a safe storage space for players who are struggling to carry all of their items.
3 Earn A Quick Achievement Easily
If you're committed to earning every possible achievement in the game, head over to Uttering Hills Cave. This is an ideal spot to earn the Hard Worker achievement for both console and PC, which involves the player cooking food, cutting wood, and mining.
All of the three amenities can be found, starting from the outside of the cave until the ruins area further inside the cave. The corundum ore vein needed for the achievement is in the same chamber of the cave where the campfire is found.
2 The History Of Cradlecrush Rock
Giants are a big theme in Eastmarch, and Cradlecrush Rock is just one of many examples of giant and mammoth camps. Cradlecrush itself has some pretty interesting lore and history for those who may be familiar with Skyrim but have never played The Elder Scrolls Online.
In the Second Era, which marks the events of ESO, the Vestige assists local giants in fighting off orcs in Cradlecrush Rock. It could explain why in the future you now find a giant in this very same area.
1 It All Started In Darkwater Crossing
The beginning of Skyrim is iconic, almost meme-like. Hardcore fans might be able to recite the entire dialogue by heart, but there's something that many often miss when they finally make it to Riverwood and get their bearings.
Ulfric, and consequently the Dragonborn, were all ambushed and captured in the same place. This area was Darkwater Crossing, located in Eastmarch, and although it doesn't look like much it's officially the place where the story of the game starts before the opening sequence.