I´ve been thinking a bit over why Skingrad is so different compared to the other towns. I mean, it´s not too far out or anything but there are some things that I can´t get a grip on.

First, isn´t Skingrad the only town where all the doors are reinforced? Why is that? It can´t be because of the count because no one outside the Mages Guild knows about his "state".

Second, why is Skingrad the only town to have guards prancing around in heavy armor? Is there a specific lore explanation I´m not aware of?

I do love Skingrad but these things cream my corn. I think I´ve read something about Skingrad being at war with Kvatch in old times, is that why this is?

Please, help me!

Even their cuirass is heavy? I didn't pay much attention to that but it's an interesting remark.

It's also a town with a very deadly bridge.

No idea on the why's, but there are other unique things about Skingrad -
- The main road leads right through the city.
- Its main industry (wine) and castle are both located outside the city walls.
- The Mages Guild has no vender/alchemist, but the city has two alchemists.
- The Count is a reclusive mage and has funny eyes. . . .
- Both the city and castle each have their own guard captain.


I enjoyed learning more about the wonderful statue near the MG of King Rislav astride his horse with hunting bird on his arm. http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Rislav_The_Righteous

Indeed, it was the spirit of King Rislav the Righteous that taught Buffy her wonderful 'Call of Corsair' power that she can use to call Superian to her from any distance.

Correction: the Imperial Watch also have heavy armor

Good points there Acadian about the alchemists and the two guard captains. Not to mention the main road thingie. Pretty weird forcing everyone who just wants to pass by to enter the town.

Also if you enter from the east I think, you have to go all the way through in order to reach one of the roads going up where the shops and guilds are. Why not have a passageway up on both sides?

Man, I´m thinking way too deep today!

You also need to pay me a fine for using my trademarked colored text.

Skingrad does seem very different than the others. I love the view from way up high, and all the flames on the sides of the bridge that leads into the castle.

Another weird thing about Skingrad: isn't it the only town where its leader has a giant picture of himself hanging? It is also the only town where the count does not hold court (except for rare moments during quests).

I´ll send a check


Why he doesn´t hold court is obvious. He doesn´t want anyone to see his fangs when he speak He needs the pictures so the people at least have a face to go on

Interesting. You might be on to something.

I like the beauty of his flag. It shows two sides, and is under the banner of a moon. "True black of night, true red of blood."-Alva.

The fact that his name also speaks of his duality is not to be missed. Janus was a Roman god of two faces, just like how Janus Hassildor has two different faces. The one the public believes, and the one they don't know.

Oh wow, never thought of that!

I knew about the Roman god Janus from VtM:B. Who ever said games can´t be educational while still entertaining?

I know what you mean. Didn't know about Janus, though.

Some possible answers:

First: I imagine it would be because they started building the city before the walls were built. With the main road running through the town center, until the walls and gate were built people needed the extra security of reinforced doors. This continued after the walls were finished for the sake of tradition.

Or

They're all reinforced to keep out rowdy drunks.


Second: The heavier armour probably goes back to the same source as the reinforced doors. Added protection before the walls and gates were built, then kept as tradition.


That's what I generally write them off as, when I'm not inclined to put Skingrad's oddities down to the abundance of wine.

Ooh, you necrothreader, you!

Extra protection before the walls were built and then kept as tradition? I could buy that I guess Though in that regard Anvil and Leyawiin would need it too since they´re right by the sea where invading ships can come at any moment.

But lets not dig too deep into that now I like your idea about Skingrad needing extra protection because it´s right smack on the main road. Even with the walls it runs right through it so the reinforced doors maybe isn´t such a bad idea even now

Yeah, when first traversing the Skingrad area, Buffy initially rode Superian between the city and castle. Trouble with that was she got vampire cramps whenever she got too close to that castle. She wonders if whoever rules Skingrad realizes there must be a nest of vampires living under the castle? Anyway, on subsequent visits she chose to follow the north wall of the city to circumnavigate the city while keeping her distance from the castle. But that is kind of the long way around. Anymore though, as the widow of a Legion soldier felled in battle, she is extended certain courtesies from the Legion; one of those being that the guards allow her to simply ride her precious mare right through the middle of the city.*

*I gifted Buffy with a mod allowing her to literally bring Superian anywhere she wants as long as there is physically room for the horse.

I'll take that as a compliment, from a master of the craft



I doubt Leyawiin needed such defenses. It lacks a port and ships can't get up the river to the Capital*, making it strategically worthless when you consider the surrounding terrain. What isn't forest is swamp.

As for Anvil, in the Thieves Den dlc it's described in Cap'n Dugal's journal as a backwater port, so it likely would have been overlooked as a target until after it was cleaned up and a Count chosen. This is likely one of the reasons for the placement of the castle in Anvil, as part of the defense.


*Now this is what gets me. If you look at a map of Cyrodiil, it's impossible for the Marie Elena to actually get to the Imperial City by sailing up the river. For one there are several bridges in the way, the biggest of which is missing in the intro to Oblivion as they show the ship sailing towards the city. Secondly, Leyawiin blocks any possibility of the ship getting into the river in the first place.