Skyrim is one of the single most popular RPGs of all time, making its way to numerous platforms spanning multiple generations. Even today, it's played by thousands of people a day, nearly a decade after it first launched. But Skyrim, mechanically, is a simpler game than its predecessors, like Morrowind. Fans could be forgiven that Skyrim's main quest is equally simple, but the reality is that its a lot more complex than it seems on a surface level.
The plot is still easy to follow and the major characters are easy to name, but for Elder Scrolls lore aficionados, there's a surprisingly deep trove of interesting history scattered throughout the game's main questline, which spans far further than the political lore found in Skyrim's Civil War quests.
For many, details hidden in the main quest are easy to gloss over. After earning the ability to use shouts and battle dragons, there are surprisingly few reasons to press ahead in the story rather than get lost on some side quest, which keeps Skyrim playthroughs above 100 hours for many players. But exploring the major plot points and factions are an easy way to learn something new about the game — an incredible feat this long after launch.
The Dragonborn
One of the unfortunate truths about Skyrim's main quest is how it glosses over what it means to be the Dragonborn, relegating it to a few bites of dialogue from guard NPCs and the Greybeards. Not only are players a Dragonborn — a mortal born with the soul of a dragon — but players are set in the role of the Last Dragonborn, and in the Dragonborn DLC, forced to face off against Miraak, the first Dragonborn.
The Last Dragonborn is the hero depicted on the aptly named Alduin's Wall in Sky Haven Temple, which players visit in the main quest. Eventually, the Last Dragonborn defeats Alduin in Sovngarde, the Nordic version of the afterlife. For the Nords, the Dragonborn is seen as a prime example of how they should live their lives, with the Dragonborn traditionally being a mighty warrior.
The Dragonborn is the central protagonist of the story, and given the roleplaying nature of Skyrim, who the Last Dragonborn was will depend on who the player decides they are, though canonically, players can likely expect that they'll resemble the Nord warrior in Skyrim's trailers for lore reasons when Elder Scrolls 6 releases.
Alduin
Alduin is the primary antagonist of Skyrim, and essentially represent the apocalypse. Funnily enough, Alduin indirectly saves the Dragonborn during their would-be execution at Helgen, setting in motion the events of the rest of the game. Of course, by the end Alduin is defeated, ending the countdown timer to the world's doom.
Some say Alduin is the Nordic name attributed to Akatosh, one of the Nine Divines, however, Alduin calls himself the "First-Born of Akatosh" so it's unclear if the Akatosh connection is legitimate. Some believe that Alduin split from Akatosh at some point, though some dragons simply state that Alduin was Akatosh's greatest creation.
Given how ancient Alduin is, it's hard to separate facts from fiction for the creature, though it's safe to assume that Alduin has the capacity to destroy the world, with ancient Nordic myths claiming that Alduin created Nirn, the game's world, after destroying the last world. Alduin also has some special abilities, being able to resurrect other dragons and call down meteors from the sky.
The Greybeards
The Greybeards are an order of monks founded by Jurgen Windcaller, using the Thu'Um, or "The Voice" in service of the gods rather than for war. With the exception of Arngeir, none of the Greybeards have much to say to the player, with their voices rattling the sky whenever they do speak.
The Greybeards are led by the dragon Paarthurnax, who served Alduin during the Dragon War, but turned on him after Alduin's claims of godhood. Paarthurnax is one of the most interesting characters in Skyrim, as he offers a unique perspective on the conflict between humans and dragons. Additionally, players can kill Paarthurnax for the Blades, though it will result in the Greybeards shunning them for the remainder of the game.
One of the most interesting aspects of the Greybeards' is their seclusion from the rest of the world. They live high up in High Hrothgar on the Throat of the World, the highest point in Tamriel. Getting there is a sort of pilgrimage for the player, with the difficult climb being punctuated by a battle with a frost troll. However, once players reach the top, their journey to truly become the Dragonborn begins, sending the main quest forward at full speed.
The Blades
Lastly, there are the Blades, once sworn protectors of the Emperor, but forced to disband after the Empire signed the White-Gold Concordant. The Blades were subsequently hunted to near-extinction by the Thalmor, with former Blades Esbern and Delphine being the only two to appear in Skyrim's main quest.
Players are able to recruit more Blades, but before doing so, they are forced to kill Paarthurnax. However, killing the dragon seems to be a fairly unpopular choice among fans of Skyrim, so there's a good chance that not many players went ahead with it, leaving the Blades in relative ruin. However, Sky Haven Temple, the Blades' headquarters in Skyrim, is one of the game's more interesting locations and definitely worth exploring.
It's unlcear if the Blades will appear in Elder Scrolls 6. The events of Skyrim leave it fairly open, so it's possible that Esbern and Delphine will have been successful in their attempt to restart the order. It's hard to say for sure, but it is something players would likely want to see.
While the next entry in the franchise is still years away, Skyrim has now lasted nearly a decade, a rare feat for any game. Time will tell if Elder Scrolls 6 is able to outlast its predecessor, but given that the franchise shows no indication of slowing down in terms of popularity, it's a safe bet that it will prove to be just as big as Skyrim.
Skyrim is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.