Summary
Solitude is one of the many cities that players will visit over the course ofSkyrim, and it is easily the one with the most ironic name. Depending on the path that the player takes in the game, they could spend a fair amount of time in Solitude for the sake of completing quests. In doing so, they will have plenty of time to take in all that the city has to offer. In doing so, they will inevitably realize several things about one ofSkyrim’s most famous cities, which could leave them with a fair few questions.
Players should become well acquainted with thenine cities ofSkyrimbecause they are where the bulk of the game’s story threads can be followed through. Each city houses important resources for players, including smiths, shops, and places to perform alchemy. More importantly, cities are full of quest-givers, and many quests require players to travel to other cities regardless. Almost every time the player finds a new city, their to-do list will receive a significant expansion due to how many new tasks there are to discover. Whether a player is looking for an adventure, a follower, or resources, cities are rarely a letdown.
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Solitude is Not as Isolated and Peaceful as it Sounds in Skyrim
The first thing worth noting while browsing theimpressive architecture ofSkyrim’s Solitudeis that, as previously mentioned, it is a city. Granted, cities inSkyrimare nowhere near as busy as cities in real life, but that alone makes it one of the more bustling places in the province. It has all the features that one would expect from one ofSkyrim’s cities, complete with many merchants to visit and a palace for the Jarl. Solitude is also home to an Imperial Fort as well as the East Empire Company Warehouse, making it one of the busier cities inSkyrim.
It is also worth noting that Solitude is the home ofJarl Elisif the Fair inSkyrim. Elisif is the widow of Torygg, the former high king of Skyrim whose murder by Ulfric Stormcloak led to the Civil War storyline. That is not the only notable political aspect of the city, though. Historically, many of the jarls of Solitude have been members of the Septim Dynasty, the first ruling family of the empire and one whose name still holds incredible weight at the time thatSkyrimtakes place. Solitude is a remarkably important city for the Empire, explaining the presence of the Imperial fort, Castle Dour.
Solitude is also the home to a faction, and perhaps the least fitting one for its name. TheBards College ofSkyrimis located in Solitude, and although it’s not as relevant as other factions the player can join, it has its own quests and perks regardless. What is especially notable is that, while the Dark Brotherhood and Thieves Guild are secretive, and the Companions are disciplined fighters, the Bards College is largely dedicated to music and song. One can easily imagine how many aspiring bards and musicians must visit the college, making Solitude quite a popular destination for visitors from across Skyrim.
Solitude’s name ends up being quite misleading for what the city is shown to be in the game. Even among themajor cities ofSkyrim, Solitude is not as quiet or peaceful as its name would imply. It’s one of the most politically important cities for the Empire, the site of a high-profile murder, and a destination for bards seeking to master their craft. While Solitude sounds like a nice place to be alone and content, the truth is that the city is far from placid, making it possibly the most ironically named location in all of Skyrim.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimis available now for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
