"You want to know who the Forsworn are? We are the people who must pillage our own land. Burn our own ground. We are the scourge of the Nords. The axe that falls in the dark. The scream before the gods claim your soul. We are the true sons and daughters of the Reach."

―The Madmen of the Reach^[src]

The Forsworn (also known as Witchmen of High Rock) are a clan of  Bretons who are mostly encountered in The Reach. The Forsworn are a remnant of the decades-old ethnic conflict between the local Nords and the indigenous Bretons.

BackgroundEdit

The Western Reach region has historically been riddled with strife and turmoil due to its location between High Rock and Skyrim, along with its rich silver mines. These factors have caused the two provinces to fight bitterly over its ownership. A peaceful agreement was reached centuries ago. The intermingling of Bretons and Nords in the region has created a regionally distinct lineage of Bretons called "Reachmen".  Bretons are the original settlers of the Reach and once held ownership over the land there. The Nords took the Reach during Skyrim's conquest of High Rock, Morrowind, and Hammerfell in the first era. The Bretons of the Reach are the most closely linked to Elven heritage out of any of the human races, which gives them an edge in the mastery of magic. The Forsworn are almost entirely of Breton lineage. They have developed a unique culture as well as a burning hatred for the Nords, which was cultivated when the Nords kicked them off of lands that they owned for thousands of years. They have been driven from their homes into exile. They are rumored to worship the Daedric Princes along with Hagravens, the latter of which can often be found in Forsworn encampments.

The Forsworn view The Reach as their ancestral land and do not accept its Nordic occupation. They were briefly the rulers of Markarth until Ulfric Stormcloak and his men killed most of Forsworn in the city about twenty years prior to the awakening of Dragons in Skyrim. They have since been known to organize attacks on the city, as well as on neighboring mines.

Notable membersEdit

• Borkul the Beast
• Braig
• Donnel
• Dryston
• Duach
• Kaie
• Madanach
• Morven
• Nana Ildene
• Nepos the Nose
• Odvan
• Tynan
• Uaile
• Uraccen
• Weylin

QuestsEdit

• The Forsworn Conspiracy
• No One Escapes Cidhna Mine

TypesEdit

• Forsworn
• Forsworn Archer
• Forsworn Forager
• Forsworn Looter
• Forsworn Pillager
• Forsworn Ravager
• Forsworn Shaman
• Forsworn Warlord
• Forsworn Briarheart

Weapons and armorEdit

Forsworn equipment is distinguished by its use of bone, fur, and feathers. It is of a primitive, albeit effective, design and is surprisingly valuable. According to their fighting techniques and equipment, Forsworn prefer to use dual-wielded weapons with unmatched skill, which may be the explanation for the lack of any Forsworn two-handed weapons or shields. Their bows are especially powerful for their weight.

• Forsworn Axe
• Forsworn Bow
• Forsworn Sword
• Forsworn Staff (Unique version: Staff of Hag's Wrath, Eye of Melka)
• Forsworn Headdress
• Forsworn Armor
• Forsworn Gauntlets
• Forsworn Boots
• Forsworn Arrow

TriviaEdit

• The Forsworn are known to have ancient Celtic or Pictish names, e.g. Braig.
• They could be considered to be somewhat based upon the Picts, the native, pre-Celtic inhabitants of the British Isles. The Nords and imperials could represent the celts who drove them north to scotland and later the vikings who attacked them from the north.
• The Forsworn may have been influenced by the movie "The 13th Warrior" and the design of the Wendo based on Michael Crichtons "Eaters of the Dead".

AppearancesEdit

• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (First appearance)

ReferencesEdit

1. Forsworn Missive
2. The Bear of Markarth
3. The Legend of Red Eagle
4. The "Madmen" of the Reach