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Skyrim: My Dream World

An ode to the Fantasy inspiration of my life

By Alexandra ZellerPublished 3 years ago 3 min read
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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Official Trailer

Bethesda is not known for many good games these days, its latest hail mary involving Fallout 76 was a big trashcan fire. However, this was not always the case. Before the Fallout and Starfield hype, there was the Elder Scrolls series.

In December of 2011, I remember anxiously awaiting a game I had begged for. I hoped to all the powers above that Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was among the gift boxes.

Sure enough, the iconic black and silver Xbox game was neatly wrapped. I was ecstatic.

It was my first real dive into any RPG or dungeon-delving games. At the time, I was fifteen years old. And holy crap did I fall in love with the game.

The lore and story were astounding.

For those that aren't familiar, the story revolves around you, a prisoner, and your attempts to leave Skyrim. The reason you try to leave is vague, although you find out quickly Skyrim is embroiled in a civil war between the Stormcloaks and the Empire. After you are captured by the Empire, you, and the leader of the Stormcloaks, Ulfric, are taken to Helgen to be executed. As you are being executed, the town is attacked by a dragon. You and others escape Helgen, but you find out that dragons (which had been considered extinct) are somehow rising from the dead. It's your job as the "Dragonborn" (a person who can speak and understand the language of dragons) to return peace to Skyrim and lay the dragons back to rest.

This is the main plotline which I refuse to spoil in case anyone decides to play.

However, the impact this game had on my life should not go understated.

The worldbuilding and choice-making that Skyrim had me delve into morphed me into the writer I am today. I constantly think back to all the details, the scenery, and the plot.

I became so involved in the game I would think of backstories for my characters. Why my high elf was trying to escape Skyrim and chose to be an assassin versus taking advantage of her natural magic affinity. I would make game decisions based on their moral compass over what I would personally make.

I was so emotionally invested in these characters and their story. It almost felt like I was committing a crime when I deleted their save file. I felt as if I was losing something I had spent hours and hours creating. Yet, I was just as eager to start anew. I could create a whole new persona and view the game from a different lens.

Being a gaming platform, the game also opened up a realm that allowed mod makers to build upon the creative field Bethesda had put down. Not only was the game a story-telling masterpiece, but it allowed for infinite expansions by the loyal player base.

All in all, it really put me in a headspace to be a writer.

I could finally feel myself creating characters that felt real. I became more comfortable writing and putting my characters in situations that I normally wouldn't explore. Villains could feel like heroes based on their motivations, and heroes could still be shallow and vain. I learned how all actions truly do have consequences, and although a character may appear to be morally sound- the outcome could still end up corrupt.

It's crazy to see just how much of an impact a game had on my life. Normally, we associate video games with a mindless escape. But Skyrim was able to truly immerse me and make me feel as if I was a part of that world.

It is my hope, that one day, to create something that has such a profound emotional and intellectual impact.

Or, at least, survive until Bethesda decides to work on the Elder Scrolls VI.

action adventure
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About the Creator

Alexandra Zeller

A young adult still trying to find her place in this world.

You can follow me on all my socials!

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