Windhelm (Skyrim)

Template:SkyrimCities

For this city in other games, see Windhelm.

Windhelm, also known as the City of Kings, is a city located in northeastern Skyrim. It serves as the capital of Eastmarch Hold. It is also the oldest city in Skyrim, possibly the oldest city of man on Tamriel that is still standing, dating back to the Merethic Era.

Segregation

Windhelm's current seal.

After the eruption of Red Mountain, many Dunmer fled to Windhelm after Hoag opened it up to Dunmer refugees. Previously known as the "Snow Quarter," the area has since been renamed the "Gray Quarter" as all the Dunmer have congregated in this area. Reasons as to why vary depending on who is spoken to within the city. Some say that the strongly nationalist Nords of Windhelm sequestered the Dunmer from the other citizens in this "Gray Quarter" in reference to the Dunmer skin color.

Argonians are also segregated from the Nord population and are forced to live at the Argonian Assemblage at the city docks. A decree by Ulfric Stormcloak forbidding the Argonians from living within the city's walls also exists. Brunwulf Free-Winter, supporter of both the Dunmer and Argonians, believes that the Argonians should remain outside of the city simply for their own safety.

Dialogue with Ulfric Stormcloak, Windhelm's current Jarl, reveals that he does not attend to the issues occurring in the Grey Quarter due to being too busy with the rebellion. The guards seldom patrol the Grey Quarter and their reasons vary, depending on the characters spoken to within the city. Some say instead that considering the guards are Nords, that they are racist towards the Dunmer and blatantly refuse to help them.

Despite the claims of Ulfric's racism towards anyone who is not Nord, High Elves seem to manage living in the city much better than the Dark Elves, despite the fact that the High Elves are the head of the Aldmeri Dominion. Niranye, an Altmer citizen of Windhelm, implies that it is because the Dark Elves refuse to conform that they live in squalor like they do, rather than because of Nordic racism. She manages to attain a moderate amount of wealth and owns a stall in the market. Likewise, the Dunmer Belyn Hlaalu is allowed to own a successful farm on the outskirts of the city where he employs an elderly Nord woman, and likewise shares the view that his kin need to stop complaining and work harder to make a home for themselves. However, despite all of this, Belyn still has to live in the Grey Quarter.

It is suggested, through dialogue with Viola Giordano, that the Dunmer are taxed more heavily than the Nords, and that these taxes can be raised at the Jarl's whim.

Civil War

The banner of Windhelm is depicted by a bear.

During 4E 201, as the Skyrim Civil War rages on, Skyrim becomes a nation divided, and Windhelm becomes the new capital of the Stormcloak Rebellion, the main center of the entire Nord revolution against the Empire. Windhelm is governed by Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak, the leader of the Stormcloaks. Ulfric was chosen by the public as the new Jarl of Windhelm after his father, the previous Jarl, died.

Ulfric believes that Skyrim should secede from what he believes is a corrupt crumbling Empire. This stance came about due to the aftermath of the Great War and the introduction of the White-Gold Concordat by the Aldmeri Dominion, though it was not until the Markarth Incident that Ulfric's rebellion truly started.

Interactions

Joining the Empire during the Main Quest will set Windhelm as the location of the last battle of the Civil War.

Quarters

Windhelm is composed of three quarters:

Stone Quarter The Stone Quarter is Windhelm’s central district; the one visitors first enter when passing through the Main Gate into the city. It contains the marketplace and the most important shops and inn.
Gray Quarter The Gray Quarter was so named because of the large number of Dunmer that reside here. It was once named the “Snow Quarter,” but that was a long time ago. But, to the elves, the name “Gray Quarter” is one of derision, cruelty, and discrimination. They believe the Nord people of Windhelm have always seen them as outsiders and hated them because of it.
Valunstrad Translated from ancient Nordic, Valunstrad means "Avenue of Valor." It is the oldest section of Windhelm and has the largest buildings in the entire city, including the ancient and majestic Palace of the Kings and the only purchasable property in the city, Hjerim.

Points of interest

Palace of the Kings

Inns

• Candlehearth Hall
• New Gnisis Cornerclub

Shops

• Blacksmith Quarters
• The White Phial
• Sadri's Used Wares
• Windhelm Marketplace

Houses

• Aretino Residence
• Atheron Residence
• Belyn Hlaalu's House
• Brunwulf Free-Winter's House
• Hjerim (for sale)
• House of Clan Cruel-Sea
• House of Clan Shatter-Shield
• Niranye's House
• Viola Giordano's House

Jarl's residence

• Palace of the Kings

Other

• Calixto's House of Curiosities
• Hall of the Dead
• Temple of Talos
• Windhelm Pit (not directly accessible; can be found through use of the Creation Kit)

Outside the city

• Argonian Assemblage
• Brandy-Mug Farm
• Clan Shatter-Shield Office
• East Empire Company Office
• Hlaalu Farm
• Hollyfrost Farm
• Warehouse
• Windhelm Stables

Purchasable property

Hjerim

Main article: Hjerim

After completing "Rescue from Fort Neugrad" for the Stormcloaks, or the full Civil War questline for the Empire, the house in Windhelm, Hjerim, costs 12,000 and can be purchased from the Jarl's steward. Assigned by the Jarl to serve the new Thane and protect the house, Calder is the Housecarl of Hjerim.

Characters

Sofie, an orphan in the city.

• Adelaisa Vendicci – Soldier who works for East Empire Company.
• Adonato Leotelli – Drama writer.
• Ambarys Rendar – Owner of New Gnisis Cornerclub.
• Angrenor Once-Honored – Beggar and disabled veteran.
• Arivanya – Wife of Ulundil.
• Aval Atheron – Merchant of market.
• Aventus Aretino – Boy who was sent to Riften orphanage.
• Belyn Hlaalu – Dunmer owner of Hlaalu Farm.
• Brunwulf Free-Winter – Man compassionate to the Dunmer and Argonians.
• Calder – Housecarl to the Dragonborn, should he or she purchase Hjerim.
• Calixto Corrium – Owner of Calixto's House of Curiosities, Serial Killer called 'The Butcher'.
• Captain Lonely-Gale – Retired sailor.
• Dalan Merchad – Sailor on the North Wind.
• Elda Early-Dawn – Proprietress of Candlehearth Hall Inn.
• Faryl Atheron – Worker of out-of-town Brandy-Mug Farm.
• Friga Shatter-Shield – The murdered twin sister of Nilsine Shatter-Shield.
• Galmar Stone-Fist – Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak's Housecarl, and right hand man.
• Grimvar Cruel-Sea – Son of Torsten Cruel-Sea.
• Helgird – Priestess of Arkay.
• Hermir Strong-Heart – Blacksmith.
• Hillevi Cruel-Sea – Wife of Torsten Cruel-Sea.
• Idesa Sadri – Live-in nanny for Clan Cruel-Sea.
• Jora – Priestess of Talos and Wife of Lortheim.
• Jorleif – Steward and Strategist to the Jarl.
• Kjar – Captain of the North Wind.
• Lortheim – Priest of Talos and husband of Jora.
• Luaffyn – Bard of Candlehearth Hall Inn.
• Malthyr Elenil – Live-in help of Ambarys Rendar.
• Neetrenaza – Argonian dockside worker.
• Nils – Cook of Candlehearth Hall Inn.
• Nilsine Shatter-Shield – Daughter of Torbjorn Shatter-Shield and Tova Shatter-Shield.
• Niranye – Merchant of market.
• Nurelion – Older owner of The White Phial
• Oengul War-Anvil – Castle blacksmith.
• Orthus Endario – Office manager of East Empire Company by the dock.
• Quintus Navale – Resident assistant of Nurelion.
• Revyn Sadri – Owner of Sadri's Used Wares.
• Rolff Stone-Fist – Galmar Stone-Fist's brother, with a similarly ingrained dislike of Dunmer and Argonians.
• Scouts-Many-Marshes – Argonian dockside worker to Torbjorn Shatter-Shield.
• Shahvee – Argonian dockside worker.
• Sifnar Ironkettle – Servant of the Jarl.
• Silda the Unseen – Beggar and Expert Pickpocket trainer.
• Sofie^HF – Orphan girl who sells flowers.
• Stands-In-Shallows – Argonian dockside worker.
• Stenvar – Mercenary staying at Candlehearth Hall Inn.
• Susanna the Wicked – Waitress of Candlehearth Hall Inn.
• Suvaris Atheron – Office manager of Clan Shatter-Shield by the dock.
• Torbjorn Shatter-Shield – Patriarch of Clan Shatter-Shield. Expert Two-Handed trainer.
• Torsten Cruel-Sea – Wealthy owner of Hollyfrost Farm.
• Tova Shatter-Shield – Wife of Torbjorn Shatter-Shield.
• Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak – The Jarl of Windhelm and leader of the Stormcloaks.
• Ulundil – Owner of Windhelm Stables.
• Viola Giordano – Wealthy old maid.
• Voldsea Giryon – Female Dark Elf sailor on the North Wind.
• Wuunferth the Unliving – Court Wizard to the Jarl. Common Destruction trainer.
• Yrsarald Thrice-Pierced – Member of the Stormcloaks.

Quests

• The White Phial (side quest)
• Repairing the Phial (side quest)
• Blood on the Ice (side quest)
• Rise in the East (side quest)
• Summerset Shadows
• Innocence Lost
• Find the Thalmor Assassin
• Harsh Master

Gallery

Windhelm Concept Art.

Windhelm Street.jpg

Windhelm Street.

An aurora and half moon over Windhelm.

Bridge to Windhelm.

Windhelm ingame snapshot

The Palace of the Kings and the nearby mountainside.

A view of the Windhelm docks.

The marketplace in Windhelm.

Aerial view over the city.

Achievements

File:File:Hero of Skyrim (Achievement).png	Hero of Skyrim Capture Solitude or Windhelm
Points	30
Trophy

Trivia

• An unused character, Sulvar the Steady, was supposed to reside in this city, but was not added to the final version of the game.
• Many followers, if taken to Windhelm, will complain about the cold, as well as the spectral assassin, who will state that it is "as cold as the Void."
• Ulfric's steward, Jorleif, if asked about the cold in Windhelm, will comment that it "grows thicker beards."
• Although much of Skyrim is cold and unforgiving, Windhelm is the snowiest city in the province.

Bugs

This section contains bugs related to Windhelm (Skyrim). Before adding a bug to this list, consider the following: Please reload an old save to confirm if the bug is still happening. If the bug is still occurring, please post the bug report with the appropriate system template  360  /  XB1  ,  PS3  /  PS4  ,  PC  /  MAC  ,  NX  /  PS5  ,  XS  , depending on which platform(s) the bug has been encountered on. Be descriptive when listing the bug and fixes, but avoid having conversations in the description and/or using first-person anecdotes: such discussions belong on the appropriate forum board.

•  PC   360   PS3   The steward (Jorleif) may continuously claim that a house is not available for sale even if all prerequisites for purchasing a home are met. This seems to be most likely if he is spoken to before "Blood on the Ice" is completed.
•  360   The game may freeze if the door from the docks is used to enter the city.
•  360   After the Battle for Windhelm pillars by Oengul War-Anvil's forge are fallen over. The meshes are in the correct destroyed position, however the collision for these pillars is in its former place. The player and other NPCs may now walk through them.
•  360   The Whirlwind Sprint shout may be exploited to gain access to the roofs and outside boundaries of Windhelm via the northernmost roof in the Gray Quarter.

Appearances

• The Elder Scrolls: Arena
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
• The Elder Scrolls Online