—THAUMKR—
As soon as we crossed into the settlement's borders, my system map flickered. A new marker etched itself onto the parchment-like display: Thaumkr.
The sight itself, however, was… underwhelming. A scattering of wooden homes stood against the snowy winds, barely more than a village. No walls. No watchtowers. No signs of wealth or defenses. In fact, it reminded me of Rorikstead from the game—only smaller, poorer, and far more fragile-looking.
But of course, that made sense. This was no hold, no ancient city. This was a settlement built from the ashes of Dawnstar's destruction.
"Not much to look at, is it?" Zavir said with a shrug as we walked through the slush and mud of the main road. "Thaumkr was built five years ago. A place for survivors, and independent from any of Skyrim's holds."
That surprised me. In the game, settlements never appeared out of nowhere. This felt like some strange mod—like LC_Build Your Noble House had been dropped into reality.
"I see… so does Thaumkr belong to the Imperials now? Or the Stormcloaks?" I asked before I could stop myself.
Zavir froze and gave me a sharp look. For a heartbeat, I thought I had made a grave mistake. Then I remembered—he'd told me already. The Imperials had won the war. The Stormcloaks were nothing more than scattered rebels, and even uttering Ulfric's name was dangerous under Imperial law.
I raised my hands quickly. "Sorry—slipped my mind."
Zavir's frown softened into a sigh. "Relax. No guards nearby. But best not to bring that up again." He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Thaumkr doesn't belong to the Imperials. Not entirely. The people here run it themselves."
I blinked. "Wait, how does that work? I thought all of Skyrim was under Imperial authority."
"It is," Zavir admitted. "But this land was reclaimed by the survivors themselves, with their own coin and labor. Since the Imperials wanted peace, they allowed it—as long as Thaumkr abides by Imperial law."
So the Imperials looked the other way. Clever politics. They gained favor among the Nords without the burden of rebuilding. It was a compromise that Skyrim from the game never showed.
As we continued walking, I noticed something else. The guards here looked… wrong. Their armor wasn't the familiar hold uniforms, nor Imperial legion steel. At first, I thought they were adventurers. But Zavir corrected me.
"They are the guards. Thaumkr doesn't have a jarl or a thane. No chief either. The people elect a committee to govern, and the guards wear what works best for survival, not ceremony."
A settlement ruled by committee, free of hold politics, with guards dressed like adventurers. Skyrim had grown stranger and more modern than I ever expected.
It wasn't long before we reached the inn. To my surprise, it wasn't the small farmhouse-style I imagined—it was enormous, rivaling the Jorrvaskr in Whiterun. Its heavy timbers and wide hall seemed far too large for such a small village.
"Here it is," Zavir said with a grin. "The New Age Inn. Supplies, beds, and gossip—you'll find it all here."
The innkeeper greeted us with a cheerful shout the moment we stepped inside. "Welcome to the New Age Inn! Where we provide—" He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes landing on Zavir. "Well, if it isn't you! Don't often see a wanderer like you coming into town."
Zavir chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Hah, you're right. I usually stay on the road. But today's different." He gestured toward me.
The innkeeper's eyes lit with mischief. "Ahhh… so this your new lover, eh?"
Heat rushed to my face before I could respond, while Zavir simply laughed without bothering to deny it.
"We're not—!" I blurted, stepping forward quickly. "We just met on the road! He's guiding me here, that's all!"
Both Zavir and the innkeeper broke into loud, hearty laughter. I was left standing awkwardly while they slapped each other's shoulders.
"It was a joke," Zavir finally said between chuckles. "Relax, friend."
I sighed. Skyrim had changed in ways I wasn't prepared for. And apparently, so had its sense of humor.