Assignment Skyrim Borders: Significant Cultural Sites, Western Falkreath Hold

• Posted by Piper Jo April 9, 2012 - 841 views

  The road from Falkreath to Elinhir in Hammerfell crosses the border at 58^o 20’N 8^o 10’W at an elevation of 6,290’.  What with the current political situation, I was surprised to find this station unmanned. 

  

  The Skyrim-Hammerfell border is marked by a rugged mountain range, and I do not have the necessary mountain climbing equipment or guides to follow the actual border.  I will, however, verify the relative positions of each of the peaks that define the border, and will survey and discuss the military ruins and caves that I find at the foot of the mountains.

  Cracked Tusk Keep (58^o 34’N 12^o 50’W):  Former site of the Third Era Brul-Mok Stronghold, birthplace of the famous adventure author, Jok Gro-Brul, whose novel, Cracked Tusk, is the namesake of the modern ruins.  As a child, I used to pretend that I was Jok and Rusty was the wolf, Cracked Tusk, and we were surviving a savage winter together in the Wrothgarian Mountains.  At the time I arrived, these ruins were inhabited by a band of orcs, but I could not consider them a stronghold due to a complete lack of females and children.  In the lower levels of this keep, in a locked and booby trapped vault, I found the broken shards of a weapon, lying on a pedestal.  Unsure what its cultural significance might be.  Also picked up a couple of interesting books of Skyrim legends.  At the time I left, the keep was uninhabitated.

  An unknown cave (61o 22’ N 25^o 13’W) with a securely locked door can be found next to a waterfall and set in a pretty valley draining to the east.  Two standing stones indicate prehistoric or religious significance, while the locked door indicates continued occupation. 

  Knifepoint Ridge Provincial Park:  Battle site during the Second Era Ninth Century campaigns of the Nords and Bretons, this park features a reconstruction of a wooden palisade fort and offers camping and picnicking as well as an alchemy station and demonstrations of ancient battle techniques.  One criticism: The re-enactors take their roles quite seriously and can make it a bit too challenging to reach the camping facilities.  Nearby Knifepoint Iron Mine allows visitors to do their own prospecting and forging but would be improved by a smelting demonstration so that visitors could make their own souvenirs from ore they collect themselves. Tried to leave my suggestions with the park ranger, but he was not open to new ideas.  Location indicated on publicly available maps is accurate.