9 Skyrim Details That Make the World Feel Strange

There's no denying that, while we're all dying to get the new installment of the franchise sooner rather than later, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim remains one of the greatest games of all time and still manages to entertain players globally. In my opinion, it's one of the most complete titles of the last 20 years, and it just keeps on giving.

Although the game is designed to be full of surprises and fantasy, there are some things that are simply strange, even more so when you take the time to actually think about them and start pulling the strings behind them.

9 The Falmer's Origins

Their Creation Is Haunting

The Dwemer are one of the most intriguing races in the land of Skyrim, and while we'll touch on that in more detail later on, there's something I think should be discussed first—the Falmer. If you've been through enough Dwemer ruins, you already know that it's highly likely that, at some point, you'll come across these creatures.

The more you look into them and learn the lore behind them, the more surprising their story sounds. They're descendants of the ancient Snow Elves, and with some intervention of the Dwemer, they came to be what they are when you encounter them.

8 The Extinction Of The Dwemer

Gone In A Split Second

As I said earlier, there's a lot to uncover around the Dwemer. They're arguably one of the most mysterious races in the land, and, from the looks of it, also one of the more advanced. As you explore Dwemer ruins, you'll often encounter artificial beings, such as Dwarven Centurions, Dwarven Spheres, Dwarven Spiders, and other technological guardians.

It's always made me wonder how a civilization capable of building such advanced machinery simply vanished into thin air and went completely extinct in what appears to be the blink of an eye. If you're looking to make a second The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim playthrough harder, I'd recommend you start by clearing all Dwemer ruins.

7 Sleeping Dragons

Sometimes, You're Just Interrupting

This one is kind of sad and messed up if you think about it. While dragons aren't harmless puppies that you can approach and pet, there are a few instances throughout the game in which you'll come across them in a passive state. In such situations, it's you who is invading their privacy and forcing a violent encounter between you and the winged creatures by disturbing their peace.

I mean, who hasn't come across a sleeping dragon while exploring the land of Skyrim and thought, "I'll kill that thing even if it hasn't aggroed." I'm not proud of it, but I have. The fact that not only humanoid NPCs, but also dragons, seem to have a schedule is one of the things that makes The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim feel alive.

6 The Thalmor and Dragon Priests

Their Obsession Is Legendary

As far as suspicious and shady groups go, the Thalmor are probably in the top 5. Not only are they obsessed with supremacy, but also with the Dragon Priest masks that can be found across the land of Skyrim. These, as you probably already know, are not easy to come by, but also evil artifacts related to some of the cruelest ancient rulers and leaders of all time.

The Thalmor seem to believe that if they collect them all, they'll be granted immeasurable power and riches that lie somewhere in Labyrinthian. It's great to have ambition, but still. They should probably cool it a little bit with the masks.

5 The Frozen Mammoth

Skyrim's Weather Can Be Harsh

Located North of Alfthand and West of Saarthal, you can find a frozen mammoth in a very particular pose. When thinking about coming across the remains of a dead animal, you'd probably expect it to be lying on the ground. However, this is not the case with this creature, as it can be seen standing on its four legs with a few spears stuck on its side.

You can also find a few Dwarven arrows, so it's not crazy to think that it was the Dwemer who killed it. But that's not the strange part. The strange part is how the body is positioned, as it suggests it was immediately frozen upon death, which either suggests extreme weather anomalies or magic of some sort to keep it like that. To me, it's questions like these that make The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim one of the best games of the last decade.

4 Forelhost's Lore

A Grim Event That Chills The Bones

Located just Southeast of Riften, Forelhost has what I consider to be one of the darkest pieces of history in the entirety of the land of Skyrim. Not only is this place the last known holdout of the Dragon Cult, but also where you can find and fight the Dragon Priest Rahgot.

Upon reading the lore of Forelhost more closely, I discovered that the cultists, as their last stand, even went as far as to poison the well everyone drank from to complete some sort of ritual that involved the death of many. In my opinion, Rahgot isn't the hardest Dragon Priest out there. But if you're struggling to beat him, using some of the best shouts in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim can surely help.

3 Nightshade And Where It Grows

A Strong Indicator Of Death

One of the most useful mechanics in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is being able to collect all sorts of flowers and herbs in order to craft and prepare various resources. A great example of this is Nightshade, which, for starters, can be used to perform the Black Sacrament Ritual to contact the Dark Brotherhood. It's also part of various other recipes that can make a difference against insurmountable odds.

Besides that, one of the things that I find weirdest about Nightshade is that it grows in graveyards and other places where death is present. So, if you ever find one in the wild, it's highly likely that someone or something is buried close by. In all honesty, I was a little disappointed that a flower such as that was never directly linked to anything related to Skyrim's Daedric Princes, since I think they'd be a great match given both their natures.

2 The Standing Stones

One Of The Greatest Mysteries In Skyrim

If there are two things you'll never miss in the land of Skyrim, it's magic and ancient structures that offer little to no knowledge about who built them or why. The Standing Stones are a great example of this, as they not only grant the Dragonborn certain benefits, but they also seem to hold more than a few secrets that few have managed to uncover.

In my opinion, they're a real-life reference to Stonehenge, which makes them even more interesting. And when you consider that they can significantly boost some of the strongest character builds in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, there's really a lot to appreciate in them.

Finding It Must Have Been Blind Luck

This one honestly took me by surprise when I first learned about it, as my mind couldn't (and still can't) comprehend how someone could figure out that there was a hidden chest beneath the Skyforge. I mean, if you've seen the videos of how it can be reached or have reached it yourself, you know that it's practically impossible that someone other than the developers knew you could glitch into that area of the game or that there was a chest there.

Why the chest was put there, how it was first discovered and why it is filled with so many valuables, especially for the early game stages, are questions I often ask myself while playing.