Pirates are nothing new toThe Elder Scrollsuniverse as theyhave been referenced in the seriessince its very outset. InSkyrimthere are very few pirate-themed questlines even though there are several pirates referenced in books and by NPCs as inhabiting Skyrim’s northern coastline. The Sea of Ghosts is home to many mysteries, the Dead Man’s Dread is just the latest.RELATED:Skyrim: Everything You Should Know About Saints And SeducersThe Dead Man’s Dread is a ship rumored to be the vessel that the legendary hero Cyrus traveled on after his adventures. Cyrus was the main character inThe Elder Scrolls Redguard, and in thisSkyrimCreation players are given the chance to recover some of his lost treasures, take the ship for themselves, and learn about what happened to this not-oft-mentioned hero.
Dead Man’s Dread starts by heading to The Winking Skeever inn, just inside the front gates of Solitude (it’s the tavern where Malborn collectsthe Dragonborn’s thingsfor the Thalmor Embassy quest). Look fora book titled “The Restless"on a table in the back of the bar and read it, which initiates a quest of the same name.
The Dead Man’s Dread is located on a new explorable island in the Sea of Ghosts north of Skyrim itself. Players don’t have to worry about swimming through frozen waters, though, as the questline directs them to aboat that goes directly to Blackbone Isle. Head inside the Grotto to begin your takeover of this legendary docked vessel.
Pirates? In My Skyrim? It’s More Likely Than You Think.
Pirates have been a mainstay ofThe Elder Scrollsseries since the beginning.The Elder Scrolls: Redguardput the player in the shoes of Cyrus, a hero wanting to rescue his sister from Clavicus Vile’s fields of regret who doubled as a “good-hearted” pirate. In legends repeated throughoutSkyrimlocals sing of Cyrus' post-Redguardadventures with his crew, though nobody knows exactly what happened to him.
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In vanillaSkyrimthere are a few quests that directly involve the province’s pirates, most notably the Jaree-Ra questline in Solitude where the Dragonborn helps to crash a ship for its loot.While colorful pirate aestheticsmight seem out-of-place in a game likeSkyrim, these ocean-faring people cause a lot of problems for merchants on the northern coastline. These raids in turn instigate a great deal of conflict and problems in cities like Solitude and Dawnstar, even if players don’t get to see much of it.
Two Unique Weapons
The Dead Man’s Dread Creation adds two Unique Enchanted weapons and a few unenchanted unique weapons too. The two new Unique Weapons are Cyrus' Sabre and The Blackwater Blade. Cyrus' Sabre was the player’s weapon of choice inThe Elder Scrolls: Redguard, while the Blackwater Blade was previouslyseen inThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
Cyrus' Sabre is displayed above a deskin a room at the end of the Dead Man’s Dread, while TheBlackwater Blade is found on the body of Celeste, the Blackwater Brigands' leader. Neither are particularly notable for their power, though they look great when displayed or part of a cosplay.Dead Man’s Dread also adds Scimitars, the legendary curved blades of the Redguards.
Redguard And Pirate Armor
In addition to these Unique Weapons, Dead Man’s Dread adds ahandful of unique clothing, though none of it counts as Armor. Cyrus' Clothes gives a player the same look as the protagonist ofThe Elder Scrolls Redguard, complete with a red vest and simple white shirt, while the Captain’s Clothes are more vibrantly blue with more embellishment.
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Additionally, there are several boots, gloves, and other clothing items that give players the ability to fully dress up in a pirate outfit. Most of these clothing items are found on the bodies of Blackwater Brigands throughout the Dead Man’s Dread, but some are hidden away in the ship in chests or other loot containers.
The highlight of the Dead Man’s Dread Creation has to be the Dead Man’s Dread player home. Once the player hascompleted the quest “The Restless” they are given full access to the docked pirate ship, including its many crafting facilities, weapon displays, mannequins, storage chests, and even the gloomy grotto it’s trapped in.
It’s a bit like owning the pirate ship fromThe Goonies, though there’s unfortunately no chance of this marooned vessel making it out to sea.Be sure to spend some time exploringthe ship and the surrounding cave to the fullest, as there are crafting materials, pirate-themed gear, and other useful items hidden away in alcoves and out-of-the-way spots.
Skyrim Anniversary Editionis available on PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S
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