Welcome to my first build! The Marshlight is a Meridian cultist from the depths of Black Marsh. They are a fusion of two of my favourite things in Skyrim - Argonians and their trademark guerilla fighting style, and the legendary sword Dawnbreaker.
The Marshlight
The Marshlight is a spellsword who combines skirmisher tacktics, alchemy and an array of magics. They are an unlikely champion of light, fighting with Dawnbreaker not as a stand-up paladin, but in the style of the Saxhleel - utilising stealth, one-handed sneak attacks, traps and poisons. As Meridia's chosen they are gifted with mastery of light, fire and life energies, which they synergise with their own fighting style.
Race: Argonian
Stats: 1/3/1
Skills: One-Handed, Light Armor, Sneak, Alchemy, Restoration, Illusion, Destruction, Alteration.
Stone: Lord
The History of the Marshlights
Back in the First Era, one branch of the many-hued Ayleid culture came to dwell in Black Marsh, far from the upheavals of the Alessian rebellion. Over time, an exchange of ideas took place between th Ayleids and the Argonians. The worshipers of Meridia as patron of stealth, obscurity and life-energies found common ground with the Argonians who honoured the life-cycles of the swamp and practiced ambush style warfare. A syncretic religion began to arse in certain tribes, venerating Meridia alongside the Hist Trees, under such titles as Mother of the Swamp, Stealthy One, Many Coloured Prince. The adepts of this new faith came to be known as Marshlights.
As the Ayleid culture in Black Marsh dwindled and became a memory, so too did knowledge of the Marshlights. By the Third Era, only a few travellers tales hinted at their existance to the wider Empire. Early in the Forth Era, and Argonian Mage, Takes-In-Light arrived at the College of Winterhold, hailing from such a tribe. Sadly, Takes-In-Light was killed in a misadventure before she should reveal much of her people's lore. She was the only Merdia worshipping Argonian to be seen outside of Black Marsh in centuries, until now...
Becoming a Marshlight
Until they obtain Dawnbreaker and the favour of their patron, the Marshlight is a typical Saxhleel warrior, perking One-Handed, Sneak, Light Armor and Alchemy. I found the build worked better in the early levels by getting a solid foundation in melee before trying to perk too many magic schools at the same time.
When around level 15 the faithful Marshlight acquires Dawnbreaker, he steadily begins to gain greater magical gifts from his patron. I gradually added spells and magic perks, continuing to perk the key skill trees of One-Handed, Sneak, Light Armor and Alchemy, and not pushing for high level spells early on. The idea is of to remain a skirmisher, empowered by the Daedric Prince, not a specialist mage.
Meridia's Magic
Gameplay
Typically the Marshlight will approach a situation stealthily. Quiet Casting is a key perk for this - as Meridia is associated with hidden secrets and obscurity, it makes sense her servant would be able to act unseen. The Marshlight sets traps and prepares for a fight whilst staying the shadows.
Then they open with a powerful one-handed sneak attack. Critical Charge combined with Silent Roll and poisoned blade combine to creat an explosive move, taking out weaker opponents instantly.
If things get touch, poisons and potions will turn the tide. In light armor, they are something of a glass cannon - the object is to dish out plenty of damage with poisoned sword and flame before having to retreat and heal.
After this - especially when Dawnbreaker's explosion goes off - then all stealth is out of the window. Fleeing undead are chased down with blade and fire. Against remaining melee opponents that do not fear Dawnbreaker, it's time to stand ground, fighting as a classic spellsword. With healing spells, cloak spells, flesh spells and a good stock of poisons and potions, the Marshlight is well able to survive a stand up fight, even when stealth isn't possible.
Equipment
The only piece of equipment essential for this build is of course Dawnbreaker. Get this as soon as possible. I felt an adept hood was also the right look for a stealth Argonian, and varieties of light armor that aren't shiny and attention seeking.
A mixture of enchantments that improve basic stats, or one-handed damage output are good. Resists are useful but secondary as you will have the Lord stone and plenty of potions of resistance. This isn't an enchanting build but I have to admit that around level 40 I tired of good scaled items never turning up in the shops, and turned to enchanting Dawnguard gear with weak enchantments.
Alchemy
I personally feel Argonian's are natural alchemists. My approach to Alchemy tends to be to make what I can out of what I can find, as I like the foraging aspect of this skill. There is little found in the wilds a Marshlight can't make some use of, so rather than listing useful ingredients, which are many, this is what I made in order of priority. I made sure that, as far as possible, I had a decent stock of all these or at least a good selection before heading out.
Roleplay and Quests
The Marshlight is at heart a witchhunter. As Meridia's champion, their goal is to put down the undead in all their forms. They embrace the obscurtiy of ther mistress, and seek no recognition or fame. I wandered the lands of Skyrim anomymously, sleeping rough in camps in the countryside, finding food and alchemy ingredients where I could, and helping people for the reward of helping evil held back for another day. The Marshlight is a humble warrior, who puts up uncomplainingly with racist abuse and misunderstanding ("hand to yourself, sneak thief!") and sees themselves as the hidden protector of those with less understanding. I like the idea of this mud-stained, gruff, scout being the closest thing the Argonians have to a Paladin.
There's lots that would be appropriate to do in Skryim, but the following are an obvious starting point:
Closing Notes
The Marshlight takes it's inspiration from some great Argonian builds I've read here, such as Teineeva's Saxheel Guerilla and Albratross's Black Marsh Vanguard. Those builds made concrete for me the feeligns I had about how Argonian's should be played.
Sadly I have no screenshots, and struggled to find pictures of Argonian spellswords, so the pictures are a bit magey. This is a pity as this build looks amazing in play, especially when striking from the darkness to execute a finishing move in a shower of fire and light.
Finally, thanks to Elysium, Dragonborn1721 and Manik for feedback in the Workshop.
Welcome to my first build! The Marshlight is a Meridian cultist from the depths of Black Marsh. They are a fusion of two of my favourite things in Skyrim - Argonians and their trademark guerilla fighting style, and the legendary sword Dawnbreaker.
The Marshlight
The Marshlight is a spellsword who combines skirmisher tacktics, alchemy and an array of magics. They are an unlikely champion of light, fighting with Dawnbreaker not as a stand-up paladin, but in the style of the Saxhleel - utilising stealth, one-handed sneak attacks, traps and poisons. As Meridia's chosen they are gifted with mastery of light, fire and life energies, which they synergise with their own fighting style.
Race: Argonian
Stats: 1/3/1
Skills: One-Handed, Light Armor, Sneak, Alchemy, Restoration, Illusion, Destruction, Alteration.
Stone: Lord
The History of the Marshlights
Back in the First Era, one branch of the many-hued Ayleid culture came to dwell in Black Marsh, far from the upheavals of the Alessian rebellion. Over time, an exchange of ideas took place between th Ayleids and the Argonians. The worshipers of Meridia as patron of stealth, obscurity and life-energies found common ground with the Argonians who honoured the life-cycles of the swamp and practiced ambush style warfare. A syncretic religion began to arse in certain tribes, venerating Meridia alongside the Hist Trees, under such titles as Mother of the Swamp, Stealthy One, Many Coloured Prince. The adepts of this new faith came to be known as Marshlights.
As the Ayleid culture in Black Marsh dwindled and became a memory, so too did knowledge of the Marshlights. By the Third Era, only a few travellers tales hinted at their existance to the wider Empire. Early in the Forth Era, and Argonian Mage, Takes-In-Light arrived at the College of Winterhold, hailing from such a tribe. Sadly, Takes-In-Light was killed in a misadventure before she should reveal much of her people's lore. She was the only Merdia worshipping Argonian to be seen outside of Black Marsh in centuries, until now...
Becoming a Marshlight
Until they obtain Dawnbreaker and the favour of their patron, the Marshlight is a typical Saxhleel warrior, perking One-Handed, Sneak, Light Armor and Alchemy. I found the build worked better in the early levels by getting a solid foundation in melee before trying to perk too many magic schools at the same time.
When around level 15 the faithful Marshlight acquires Dawnbreaker, he steadily begins to gain greater magical gifts from his patron. I gradually added spells and magic perks, continuing to perk the key skill trees of One-Handed, Sneak, Light Armor and Alchemy, and not pushing for high level spells early on. The idea is of to remain a skirmisher, empowered by the Daedric Prince, not a specialist mage.
Meridia's Magic
Gameplay
Typically the Marshlight will approach a situation stealthily. Quiet Casting is a key perk for this - as Meridia is associated with hidden secrets and obscurity, it makes sense her servant would be able to act unseen. The Marshlight sets traps and prepares for a fight whilst staying the shadows.
Then they open with a powerful one-handed sneak attack. Critical Charge combined with Silent Roll and poisoned blade combine to creat an explosive move, taking out weaker opponents instantly.
If things get touch, poisons and potions will turn the tide. In light armor, they are something of a glass cannon - the object is to dish out plenty of damage with poisoned sword and flame before having to retreat and heal.
After this - especially when Dawnbreaker's explosion goes off - then all stealth is out of the window. Fleeing undead are chased down with blade and fire. Against remaining melee opponents that do not fear Dawnbreaker, it's time to stand ground, fighting as a classic spellsword. With healing spells, cloak spells, flesh spells and a good stock of poisons and potions, the Marshlight is well able to survive a stand up fight, even when stealth isn't possible.
Equipment
The only piece of equipment essential for this build is of course Dawnbreaker. Get this as soon as possible. I felt an adept hood was also the right look for a stealth Argonian, and varieties of light armor that aren't shiny and attention seeking.
A mixture of enchantments that improve basic stats, or one-handed damage output are good. Resists are useful but secondary as you will have the Lord stone and plenty of potions of resistance. This isn't an enchanting build but I have to admit that around level 40 I tired of good scaled items never turning up in the shops, and turned to enchanting Dawnguard gear with weak enchantments.
Alchemy
I personally feel Argonian's are natural alchemists. My approach to Alchemy tends to be to make what I can out of what I can find, as I like the foraging aspect of this skill. There is little found in the wilds a Marshlight can't make some use of, so rather than listing useful ingredients, which are many, this is what I made in order of priority. I made sure that, as far as possible, I had a decent stock of all these or at least a good selection before heading out.
Roleplay and Quests
The Marshlight is at heart a witchhunter. As Meridia's champion, their goal is to put down the undead in all their forms. They embrace the obscurtiy of ther mistress, and seek no recognition or fame. I wandered the lands of Skyrim anomymously, sleeping rough in camps in the countryside, finding food and alchemy ingredients where I could, and helping people for the reward of helping evil held back for another day. The Marshlight is a humble warrior, who puts up uncomplainingly with racist abuse and misunderstanding ("hand to yourself, sneak thief!") and sees themselves as the hidden protector of those with less understanding. I like the idea of this mud-stained, gruff, scout being the closest thing the Argonians have to a Paladin.
There's lots that would be appropriate to do in Skryim, but the following are an obvious starting point:
Closing Notes
The Marshlight takes it's inspiration from some great Argonian builds I've read here, such as Teineeva's Saxheel Guerilla and Albratross's Black Marsh Vanguard. Those builds made concrete for me the feeligns I had about how Argonian's should be played.
Sadly I have no screenshots, and struggled to find pictures of Argonian spellswords, so the pictures are a bit magey. This is a pity as this build looks amazing in play, especially when striking from the darkness to execute a finishing move in a shower of fire and light.
Finally, thanks to Elysium, Dragonborn1721 and Manik for feedback in the Workshop.
This came out really well. I do feel like this build could be a bit better if we had chance to become something more than just a Marshlight foot solider. Then again I am huge on heavy roleplay builds. The only thing I can think of is to get yourself some cooltext for section separators. This is really good already though. Great job.
This came out really well. I do feel like this build could be a bit better if we had chance to become something more than just a Marshlight foot solider. Then again I am huge on heavy roleplay builds. The only thing I can think of is to get yourself some cooltext for section separators. This is really good already though. Great job.
I like this build I really do. A stealthy Argonian paladin is a pretty unorthodox combination, and I love how you justified it through lore.
I think one thing this build could use is a great opening image. Its a must. The perk spread should never be the first image the reader comes across when reading your build.
If you could find an opening picture as awesome looking as the one you have in your role play section that would be great.
I like this build I really do. A stealthy Argonian paladin is a pretty unorthodox combination, and I love how you justified it through lore.
I think one thing this build could use is a great opening image. Its a must. The perk spread should never be the first image the reader comes across when reading your build.
If you could find an opening picture as awesome looking as the one you have in your role play section that would be great.
Yeah. Having read through your Green Warden build I can see there is a lot of opportunity to add more roleplay to this. I'm having some thoughts about that. That's what I love about this group - it's showing me how to take character development to another level.
Yeah. Having read through your Green Warden build I can see there is a lot of opportunity to add more roleplay to this. I'm having some thoughts about that. That's what I love about this group - it's showing me how to take character development to another level.
Something else I would recommend is maybe dropping some perks. Level 60 is pretty high I soft cap my build at level 45 and hard cap is 55. You don't need Stealth 5/5 to sneak effectively.
C'mon guys this should be out of the bloodworks by now. Where is the love?
Something else I would recommend is maybe dropping some perks. Level 60 is pretty high I soft cap my build at level 45 and hard cap is 55. You don't need Stealth 5/5 to sneak effectively.
C'mon guys this should be out of the bloodworks by now. Where is the love?