"Blood and silver, friend. Blood and silver. It's right there in the name of the most powerful family in Markarth. The Silver-Bloods. They have a whole mine filled with prisoners to dig up silver ore, gets smelted by workers they pay, and they own half the city. I work for them. The inn is named after them. When the guards make an arrest, they check with them first."
"You outsiders never learn. If the Forsworn don't get you, the guards will throw you in Cidhna Mine to work your fingers off. Think that's water in the river? Blood and silver are what flows through Markarth, friend."
- Yngvar the Singer
Markarth.
Many people think Riften is the most corrupt city in Skyrim, but I would put forth Markarth as its equal in corruption, as well as being the most disturbing city in Skyrim. Between the politics of the Silver-Blood family and their back-door deals with the Forsworn, the slavery inherent in Cidhna Mine, the corrupt guardsmen…you name it Markarth has it, along with the single-most disconcerting Daedric quest in the game.
The city is so deliciously twisted, yet the surrounding area of the Reach is very beautiful and full of “what will I find just over this new hill” exploration. Great big dichotomy. Enter the Silver-Blood Spy who begins as a failed Briarheart before joining the Silver-Bloods to hunt Forsworn and in the process becoming as sick and twisted as the family she works for.
Mod note: I play on the PC and keep many mods active, including the unofficial patches, which means that most of the exploits are unavailable to me, such as elemental fury with a magical weapon in your right hand.
Table of Contents
“Herstory”
Gameplay * Skills * Perk Spreads
Equipment * Toxins and Infusions * Abilities
Roleplay * Suggested Quests
Followers * Mod Notes
Closing Notes
“Herstory”
Once a Forsworn Archer destined to become the first female Briarheart, a deadly error in the profane rite led to abandonment by her people. The Forsworn do not accept failure easily and she was thrown from the top of Bard’s Leap Summit to her presumed death.
But her mangled and twisted Briarheart kept her alive.
Determined to seek revenge on her former clan, she ends up aiding the Silver-Blood family to root out the Forsworn from the Reach before it can become known of their dealings with the King in Rags, Madanach. She cares nothing for the politics of the family at first, so intent is she on seeking her revenge.
As she continues to work for the Family, the Silver-Blood Spy begins to plunge into the same corruption that marks them all. Can she put her past as a Forsworn and a Silver-Blood Spy behind her, or will she be destined to forever live with the immoral taint of both Briarheart and Silver-Blood?
Gameplay
Race: Female Breton (male would work as well)
Stone: Warrior/Lover stone for early skill leveling * Lady Stone for added health regeneration once you are satisfied with your skills
Stats Distribution: 1 * 4 * 0 While the Silver-Blood Spy has knowledge of a few of the magic schools, the build does not requires a huge magicka pool. Nor does it require a large stamina pool as power attacks aren’t used, only archery (and a ring that boosts stamina is a large part of the build). Health and quick movement are the primary goals here.
Shouts/Powers: Elemental Fury (her top priority and should be taken to level 3 as soon as possible) * Slow Time * Aura Whisper * Dismay * Agent of Dibella
Suggested mods: Frostfall * Realistic Needs and Diseases * Dawn of Markarth * Cidhna Mine Expanded * Expanded Cities and Towns * Cloaks of Skyrim * Lore-Worthy Hagravens
Major Skills
Archery:
The Spy is an expert archer from the days before her failed rite. She still maintains the skill she had and when given the chance will often prefer to batter her foes with a barrage of arrows.
She prefers the lighter, though less powerful, hunting and Forsworn bows to the greater draw weight but significantly reduced speed of more powerful bows. Her primary goal is the ranger perk that allows freedom of movement with a drawn bow.
One Handed:
Just as any true Briarheart, when fighting hand-to-hand the Silver-Blood Spy wields two axes in a flurry of motion. Preferring the speed and feel of unenchanted axes the Spy psyches herself up and flies into a rage-induced storm of bloody death.
The Spy avoids power attacks as they force her to stand in one place for too long. Though axes are slightly slower than swords she prefers them for their extra bleed damage.
Alchemy:
Gifted with knowledge of nature and the brewing of foul poisons by the Hagraven who performed her doomed ritual, the Spy makes use of all forms of nature she comes across, be it animal, plant or otherwise. She never hesitates to coat her axes or arrows with a special toxin, or infuse her own body with the healing powers a Briarheart can make use of.
The Briarheart rite left her unable to master the healing arts of the restoration school, so all healing must come from her infusions. Most of her toxins and infusions have common or at least relatively easy to find ingredients (including several that grow primarily in the Reach) with one moderate exception.
Conjuration:
The blasphemous Briarheart rite left lasting effects on the Silver-Blood Spy as it completed a pact with the dark forces of Oblivion, enabling her to summon Atronachs and Dremora at will. When faced with an enemy the Spy does not hesitate to call upon the creatures of Oblivion for aid.
As a Breton, the Spy can almost immediately take perks that allow her to summon a flame atronach for half the magicka cost, allowing her to keep her magicka pool low at the start in favor of health.
Minor Skills
Light Armor:
Part and parcel with moving quickly around the battlefield is to not be encumbered by armor. When hunting in the wilds the Silver-Blood Spy uses the Forsworn armor she was trained for, though she has also become proficient with some of the armors used by the more civilized warriors outside of the Reach.
Depending on one’s skill with weapons, training may be required to level this one quicker. Unfortunately the various light armor trainers are all the way on the other side of Skyrim (or quest-locked in a quest-line she won’t be starting) so a few trips must be made.
Alteration:
The Spy has become competent at manipulating the physical reality of her own body and occasionally items around her, making her skin as hard as stone with no loss of movement. More in-tune with nature she has also learned to discover the locations of her enemies with a mere thought.
With light armor and an in-your-face fighting style, the Spy makes heavy use of armor spells cast before battle to boost her defenses, especially at lower levels.
Smithing:
The Silver-Blood Spy does not toil all day at the forge like a true smith, but she has learned how to improve her weapons and armor so they are sharper and fit better. Though she appreciates the craft, she lacks the dedication to be a true mastersmith.
The Spy is primarily concerned with the steel smithing perk for improving her bows and axes, though she may eventually raise her craft far enough to be able to smith and improve scaled equipment. She is not interested in glass or dragonscale equipment.
Unperked Skills
Though she uses the sneak and illusion skills to move quietly and unseen through the wilderness, both skills remain unperked. The Silver-Blood Spy does not hesitate to use an occasional sneak attack when warranted, but she prefers constant movement in combat, whether with bow or axes, to statically sitting back in the shadows. She needs to feel her enemies health bleed away, not kill them in one shot.
The Briarheart rite for the Spy was bungled badly and resulted in what the Hagravens termed a defective product. The Spy is completely unable to use the powerful magic of destruction like other Briarhearts, and has completely blunted her ability to heal herself through the magic of restoration. She has managed to effect a limited ward on occasion to blunt Hagraven magic, but she must heal herself through other means (alchemy and fortify health regeneration items).
Level 25 Perk Spread
Level 50 Perk Spread
Equipment
The Silver-Blood Spy must learn to adapt to her environment. When in the wilds of the Reach hunting the Forsworn she dresses as another Forsworn in order to get closer to them. When she must enter Markarth to report to the Silver-Blood family, or head elsewhere in their employ, she dresses in leather or scale armor in order to appear as a proper adventurer.
As the Silver-Blood Spy tends to fight with light armor, no blocking and no restoration-based healing, fortify health regeneration enchantments are a big key for her continued health. The Ring of Namira should be a priority as she levels into the teens and beyond.
Weapons:
Dual-wielded, unenchanted steel or Forsworn war axes * Forsworn bow or Bow of the Hunt * Sanguine Rose
Armor/Jewelry:
Amulet of fortify health regeneration * Ring of Namira
When hunting Forsworn: Armor of the Old Gods (full set)
When in civilization: enchanted (found/purchased) scaled armor (preferred enchantments include fortify health regeneration or fortify one-handed/archery)
Toxins and Infusions
Hagsbane toxin: Having lived around hagravens all of her life the Silver-Blood Spy knows that the best way to fight them is if they can't cast their powerful destruction spells.
Effects: damage magicka * damage magicka regen
Ingredients: hanging moss * blue mountain flower * butterfly wing. For extra added fun use a hagraven feather in place of the blue mountain flower (no gameplay benefit)
Bear of Markarth infusion: The Silver-Blood Spy feels the very soil of the Reach infuse her with newfound offensive power, while also becoming able to shrug off blows that would fell a real bear.
Effects: fortify one-handed * fortify health * restore stamina
Ingredients: hanging moss * bear claw * purple mountain flower
Briarheart Necrosis toxin: The speed of a true Briarheart in the wild is their greatest asset. Slow down their attacks while causing them pain and they will fall easily. If they show signs of starting to come out of the Necrosis, hit them with it again and the effects will magnify.
Effects: slow * damage health * weakness to poison
Ingredients: deathbell * river betty * bleeding crown or chaurus egg
Madmen’s Spirit infusion: Leaching the powerful spirit of an ancient Forsworn archer into a distilled potion allows the Silver-Blood Spy to shoot her bow while shrugging off any reprisals from her enemies.
Effects: regenerate health * fortify marksman
Ingredients: juniper berries * garlic * elves ear
Terror of the Forsworn toxin: Nothing strikes greater fear into a Forsworn than feeling their body seize up from paralysis while their lifeblood slowly bleeds out.
Effects: paralysis * lingering damage health
Ingredients: swamp fungal pod * imp stool * mora topinella Or switch out the mora topinella with wheat for lingering damage magicka for a second type of spellcaster removal.
Briarheart Risen infusion: A last-ditch effort if discovered and heavily pressed, the Spy will blend into her surroundings and use the time to heal. When she is ready she will come out of her surroundings better protected than before.
Effects: regenerate health * invisibility * fortify light armor
Ingredients: luna moth wing * vampire dust * skeever tail
Abilities
"Heart of thorn... bones of the wild... in life, Forsworn...
...rise from death, Blood of our Blood."
- Briarheart Ceremony
Heart of Thorn: With her powers of focus, the Spy slows her opponent's reaction time in multiple ways, providing her the perfect amount of time to set up for a kill.
Requirements: Briarheart Necrosis toxin * slow time shout
Bones of the Wild: The Silver-Blood Spy suddenly turns into a whirling dervish of blades, tirelessly flitting about the battlefield and raining quick death upon all enemies.
Requirements: dual wielded axes * hack and slash perks * Bear of Markarth infusion * elemental fury shout
Rise from Death: The Silver-Blood Spy has risen from certain death before and will rise again from near death as she escapes to a hidden corner and waits for her body to regain its equilibrium.
Requirements: ring of Namira * lady stone * Briarheart Risen infusion
Blood of Our Blood: An opponent can only watch in terror as the Silver-Blood Spy puts him into a catatonic state while he bleeds to death from a thousand and one cuts.
Requirements: dual wielded axes * hack and slash perks * Terror of the Forsworn toxin
Roleplay
Part of the idea behind her is to experience the journey through the backwoods of the Reach as much as the destination of completing specific quests. The Silver-Blood Spy has few in the way of lengthy questlines. When not running errands for the Silver-Blood family she prefers to wander the wilds of the Reach in search of Forsworn and Hagravens to kill, hoping that she will one day stumble upon the small group that destroyed her former life.
The Silver-Blood Spy is possessed by a burning desire to seek revenge on all Forsworn and their hagraven matriarchs, and this force drives much of her personality. Having been raised in an environment that celebrates blood rites and the Daedric lords, she is not at all afraid to explore deeper and deeper pacts with those Daedra Lords, including with some that many people find distasteful.
She will take small jobs for the Jarl and others in Markarth who have had trouble with the Forsworn. But a decent portion of this character build is about seeing the sights of the Reach, especially the many back areas where the Forsworn hold sway. That said there are a few definite quests involved in playing the Silver-Blood Spy, including her inevitable “two-weeks notice” (see below).
Low-level quest recommendations: Set up the ability to use elemental fury (by completing Dragon Rising and finding at least one of the word walls and a dragon (Dragontooth Crater is recommended) before traveling to Markarth to take up her new career for the Silver-Blood family. Two words would be even better, requiring a trip through Shriekwind Bastion or up past Dragon’s Bridge, plus finding another dragon to fight. When you get to Markarth, finish the Taste of Death either before or right after starting the Forsworn Conspiracy and before other Forsworn hunting. Avoid Karthwasten until you start actually working for the Silver-Bloods.
Suggested Quests
Main Quest: Up to the end of Dragon Rising. She rejects the notion that she is the Dragonborn and then heads to Markarth. She believes the shouts she learns are gifts from the botched Briarheart process, and has nothing to do with any “Nord nonsense”.
The Forsworn Conspiracy / No One Escapes Cidhna Mine: These two connected quests should be done early in the Silver-Blood Spy’s career as it represents the former Forsworn becoming the Silver-Blood Spy. The quest is not necessarily easy at low levels though, especially if you desire to get the most out of the quest (both the Armor of the Old Gods and the Silver-Blood Family Ring to signify that you now work for them). If you do not want to try to gain both then at the least the Silver-Blood Spy will betray Madanach, the King in Rags, and begin her life as a Spy.
The Taste of Death: At her lowest ebb, when her cursed life seems unbearable, the Silver-Blood Spy meets the girl Eola who invites her to feast upon the living. In her confused state of mind, brought on by the defective Briarheart she accepts and falls ever deeper into depravity and corruption. She tries to only feast when in the wild though.
Sanuarach Mine (Karthwasten): End the dispute in favor of the Silver-Bloods by forcing Ainethach to sell the mines.
The Heart of Dibella: While exploring the city of Markarth the Silver-Blood Spy accidentally stumbles upon a Dibellan rite in their temple and must atone by finding their new Sibyl. Conveniently, the Sibyl is being held hostage by Forsworn.
The House of Horrors: Though not particularly religious she is curious about the abandoned house that the Vigilant talks about. She has no need of the Mace of Molag Bal, but is willing to hunt down the priest of Boethiah for Molag Bal as she recognizes that forging new pacts with Daedric Lords brings one power. In game terms, this quest was started primarily as the abandoned house is considered safe storage. She has no desire to become a thane for Jarl Igmund in order to purchase Vlindrel Hall, though she might consider it if Thongvor Silver-Blood becomes Jarl (see below), so having safe storage in Markarth was desirable.
A Night to Remember: While drowning her sorrows in drink she unwittingly shares a bottle with Sam Guevenne. The Sanguine Rose only increases her pact with the Daedric lords and extends her ability to summon the dark forces of Oblivion.
Civil War: Once the Spy has erased from history a portion of the Silver-Blood dealings with the Forsworn (i.e. clearing out a bunch of their forts) the family will start to progress farther into the politics of the Reach. Stormcloak supporters all, they urge the Spy to help Ulfric Stormcloak in the Civil War that rages through the land, eventually putting Thonar’s brother Thongvor Silver-Blood on the Jarl’s seat of Markarth.
Kill the Silver-Blood brothers: As she sinks ever deeper into the morass of the Silver-Blood politics the Silver-Blood Spy slowly realizes that perhaps there should be more to life, if only she can escape the clutches of the Silver-Blood family. But it won’t be easy. They know too much about her.
She realizes she can no longer take the pressures of working for the most corrupt family in Markarth. She enters the Treasury House and the palace and murders her employers in cold blood. She is at last free to do as she wishes with her cursed life. She will likely travel as far from the Reach as possible…perhaps to sell her skills for money with the Companions, searching for more pacts to form with Daedric Lords (whether or not she can, or will, use the gifted artifacts) or perhaps even as far as Solstheim, where she might eventually take up the moniker of Deathbrand.
Note: If you attempt to receive both rewards from the No One Escapes Cidhna Mine quest there is a very good chance Thonar Silver-Blood will be killed during the final battle unless you manage to keep all of the Forsworn in the ruins with you (making the battle there much more difficult). Thongvor Silver-Blood is essential and can't be killed because of his ties to becoming Jarl, but once he does become Jarl you can roleplay that you thought you killed him before you left Markarth forever.
Followers
The Silver-Blood Spy was raised in the wilds, living with a large group of other Forsworn. As she starts hunting Forsworn she is perfectly capable of traveling alone, but she does not force herself to do so, recognizing the advantage a stealthy companion can bring. She begins to learn that there are non-Forsworn who are worthy of respect. If she does take a follower she prefers one who can keep up with her in the wilds rather than a lumbering ox in heavy armor. The nightblade Eola from the Taste of Death quest is a potential follower with great synergy with the Spy as she is also a summoner.
Mod Notes
No mods are required to play this build, but for a character that could potentially spend a lot of time camping in the wilds, the Frostfall mod is a perfect addition. For a true "camping in the wilds of Skyrim" experience there is no better mod. The Realistic Needs and Diseases also adds quite a bit to the camping experience, especially if you're unprepared for it.
While I was heading to Dragontooth Crater during my test run, my Spy received both Ataxia and Witbane from animal attacks, with both diseases boosted beyond their norm, meaning I had negatives to both archery and one-handed damage, no magicka regen and a penalty to skill growth...with no cure disease items. After fighting the dragon I was able to shoot down a hawk to cure myself, but the dragon fight was incredibly harry with so many disease penalties. And gratifying when I dispatched it.
Most of the other mods I linked to above expand either the Markarth experience, or a questline related to the Spy.
Closing Notes
This character has been great fun to play. I don't generally play a dual-wielder very often, at least not in the past two years, as I tend to prefer the more measured pace of blocking and parrying, but the balls-out "dual/elemental fury/no restoration except regeneration and potions" style of combat was a refreshing change of pace for me.
Setting much of the action in and around Markarth, a great city but one I don't normally spend a whole lot of time in beyond passing through to do various quests in the area, was also a plus for me. I enjoyed wandering the hills and seeing some sights I had never actually seen in person (so to speak) in all the time I've been playing this game.
Hopefully everyone enjoys it as much as I did.
Art Credit:
If you liked this build please check out my other build The Graveknight of the Divines and my blog The Graveknight's Oath.
"Blood and silver, friend. Blood and silver. It's right there in the name of the most powerful family in Markarth. The Silver-Bloods. They have a whole mine filled with prisoners to dig up silver ore, gets smelted by workers they pay, and they own half the city. I work for them. The inn is named after them. When the guards make an arrest, they check with them first."
"You outsiders never learn. If the Forsworn don't get you, the guards will throw you in Cidhna Mine to work your fingers off. Think that's water in the river? Blood and silver are what flows through Markarth, friend."
- Yngvar the Singer
Markarth.
Many people think Riften is the most corrupt city in Skyrim, but I would put forth Markarth as its equal in corruption, as well as being the most disturbing city in Skyrim. Between the politics of the Silver-Blood family and their back-door deals with the Forsworn, the slavery inherent in Cidhna Mine, the corrupt guardsmen…you name it Markarth has it, along with the single-most disconcerting Daedric quest in the game.
The city is so deliciously twisted, yet the surrounding area of the Reach is very beautiful and full of “what will I find just over this new hill” exploration. Great big dichotomy. Enter the Silver-Blood Spy who begins as a failed Briarheart before joining the Silver-Bloods to hunt Forsworn and in the process becoming as sick and twisted as the family she works for.
Mod note: I play on the PC and keep many mods active, including the unofficial patches, which means that most of the exploits are unavailable to me, such as elemental fury with a magical weapon in your right hand.
Table of Contents
“Herstory”
Gameplay * Skills * Perk Spreads
Equipment * Toxins and Infusions * Abilities
Roleplay * Suggested Quests
Followers * Mod Notes
Closing Notes
“Herstory”
Once a Forsworn Archer destined to become the first female Briarheart, a deadly error in the profane rite led to abandonment by her people. The Forsworn do not accept failure easily and she was thrown from the top of Bard’s Leap Summit to her presumed death.
But her mangled and twisted Briarheart kept her alive.
Determined to seek revenge on her former clan, she ends up aiding the Silver-Blood family to root out the Forsworn from the Reach before it can become known of their dealings with the King in Rags, Madanach. She cares nothing for the politics of the family at first, so intent is she on seeking her revenge.
As she continues to work for the Family, the Silver-Blood Spy begins to plunge into the same corruption that marks them all. Can she put her past as a Forsworn and a Silver-Blood Spy behind her, or will she be destined to forever live with the immoral taint of both Briarheart and Silver-Blood?
Gameplay
Race: Female Breton (male would work as well)
Stone: Warrior/Lover stone for early skill leveling * Lady Stone for added health regeneration once you are satisfied with your skills
Stats Distribution: 1 * 4 * 0 While the Silver-Blood Spy has knowledge of a few of the magic schools, the build does not requires a huge magicka pool. Nor does it require a large stamina pool as power attacks aren’t used, only archery (and a ring that boosts stamina is a large part of the build). Health and quick movement are the primary goals here.
Shouts/Powers: Elemental Fury (her top priority and should be taken to level 3 as soon as possible) * Slow Time * Aura Whisper * Dismay * Agent of Dibella
Suggested mods: Frostfall * Realistic Needs and Diseases * Dawn of Markarth * Cidhna Mine Expanded * Expanded Cities and Towns * Cloaks of Skyrim * Lore-Worthy Hagravens
Major Skills
Archery:
The Spy is an expert archer from the days before her failed rite. She still maintains the skill she had and when given the chance will often prefer to batter her foes with a barrage of arrows.
She prefers the lighter, though less powerful, hunting and Forsworn bows to the greater draw weight but significantly reduced speed of more powerful bows. Her primary goal is the ranger perk that allows freedom of movement with a drawn bow.
One Handed:
Just as any true Briarheart, when fighting hand-to-hand the Silver-Blood Spy wields two axes in a flurry of motion. Preferring the speed and feel of unenchanted axes the Spy psyches herself up and flies into a rage-induced storm of bloody death.
The Spy avoids power attacks as they force her to stand in one place for too long. Though axes are slightly slower than swords she prefers them for their extra bleed damage.
Alchemy:
Gifted with knowledge of nature and the brewing of foul poisons by the Hagraven who performed her doomed ritual, the Spy makes use of all forms of nature she comes across, be it animal, plant or otherwise. She never hesitates to coat her axes or arrows with a special toxin, or infuse her own body with the healing powers a Briarheart can make use of.
The Briarheart rite left her unable to master the healing arts of the restoration school, so all healing must come from her infusions. Most of her toxins and infusions have common or at least relatively easy to find ingredients (including several that grow primarily in the Reach) with one moderate exception.
Conjuration:
The blasphemous Briarheart rite left lasting effects on the Silver-Blood Spy as it completed a pact with the dark forces of Oblivion, enabling her to summon Atronachs and Dremora at will. When faced with an enemy the Spy does not hesitate to call upon the creatures of Oblivion for aid.
As a Breton, the Spy can almost immediately take perks that allow her to summon a flame atronach for half the magicka cost, allowing her to keep her magicka pool low at the start in favor of health.
Minor Skills
Light Armor:
Part and parcel with moving quickly around the battlefield is to not be encumbered by armor. When hunting in the wilds the Silver-Blood Spy uses the Forsworn armor she was trained for, though she has also become proficient with some of the armors used by the more civilized warriors outside of the Reach.
Depending on one’s skill with weapons, training may be required to level this one quicker. Unfortunately the various light armor trainers are all the way on the other side of Skyrim (or quest-locked in a quest-line she won’t be starting) so a few trips must be made.
Alteration:
The Spy has become competent at manipulating the physical reality of her own body and occasionally items around her, making her skin as hard as stone with no loss of movement. More in-tune with nature she has also learned to discover the locations of her enemies with a mere thought.
With light armor and an in-your-face fighting style, the Spy makes heavy use of armor spells cast before battle to boost her defenses, especially at lower levels.
Smithing:
The Silver-Blood Spy does not toil all day at the forge like a true smith, but she has learned how to improve her weapons and armor so they are sharper and fit better. Though she appreciates the craft, she lacks the dedication to be a true mastersmith.
The Spy is primarily concerned with the steel smithing perk for improving her bows and axes, though she may eventually raise her craft far enough to be able to smith and improve scaled equipment. She is not interested in glass or dragonscale equipment.
Unperked Skills
Though she uses the sneak and illusion skills to move quietly and unseen through the wilderness, both skills remain unperked. The Silver-Blood Spy does not hesitate to use an occasional sneak attack when warranted, but she prefers constant movement in combat, whether with bow or axes, to statically sitting back in the shadows. She needs to feel her enemies health bleed away, not kill them in one shot.
The Briarheart rite for the Spy was bungled badly and resulted in what the Hagravens termed a defective product. The Spy is completely unable to use the powerful magic of destruction like other Briarhearts, and has completely blunted her ability to heal herself through the magic of restoration. She has managed to effect a limited ward on occasion to blunt Hagraven magic, but she must heal herself through other means (alchemy and fortify health regeneration items).
Level 25 Perk Spread
Level 50 Perk Spread
Equipment
The Silver-Blood Spy must learn to adapt to her environment. When in the wilds of the Reach hunting the Forsworn she dresses as another Forsworn in order to get closer to them. When she must enter Markarth to report to the Silver-Blood family, or head elsewhere in their employ, she dresses in leather or scale armor in order to appear as a proper adventurer.
As the Silver-Blood Spy tends to fight with light armor, no blocking and no restoration-based healing, fortify health regeneration enchantments are a big key for her continued health. The Ring of Namira should be a priority as she levels into the teens and beyond.
Weapons:
Dual-wielded, unenchanted steel or Forsworn war axes * Forsworn bow or Bow of the Hunt * Sanguine Rose
Armor/Jewelry:
Amulet of fortify health regeneration * Ring of Namira
When hunting Forsworn: Armor of the Old Gods (full set)
When in civilization: enchanted (found/purchased) scaled armor (preferred enchantments include fortify health regeneration or fortify one-handed/archery)
Toxins and Infusions
Hagsbane toxin: Having lived around hagravens all of her life the Silver-Blood Spy knows that the best way to fight them is if they can't cast their powerful destruction spells.
Effects: damage magicka * damage magicka regen
Ingredients: hanging moss * blue mountain flower * butterfly wing. For extra added fun use a hagraven feather in place of the blue mountain flower (no gameplay benefit)
Bear of Markarth infusion: The Silver-Blood Spy feels the very soil of the Reach infuse her with newfound offensive power, while also becoming able to shrug off blows that would fell a real bear.
Effects: fortify one-handed * fortify health * restore stamina
Ingredients: hanging moss * bear claw * purple mountain flower
Briarheart Necrosis toxin: The speed of a true Briarheart in the wild is their greatest asset. Slow down their attacks while causing them pain and they will fall easily. If they show signs of starting to come out of the Necrosis, hit them with it again and the effects will magnify.
Effects: slow * damage health * weakness to poison
Ingredients: deathbell * river betty * bleeding crown or chaurus egg
Madmen’s Spirit infusion: Leaching the powerful spirit of an ancient Forsworn archer into a distilled potion allows the Silver-Blood Spy to shoot her bow while shrugging off any reprisals from her enemies.
Effects: regenerate health * fortify marksman
Ingredients: juniper berries * garlic * elves ear
Terror of the Forsworn toxin: Nothing strikes greater fear into a Forsworn than feeling their body seize up from paralysis while their lifeblood slowly bleeds out.
Effects: paralysis * lingering damage health
Ingredients: swamp fungal pod * imp stool * mora topinella Or switch out the mora topinella with wheat for lingering damage magicka for a second type of spellcaster removal.
Briarheart Risen infusion: A last-ditch effort if discovered and heavily pressed, the Spy will blend into her surroundings and use the time to heal. When she is ready she will come out of her surroundings better protected than before.
Effects: regenerate health * invisibility * fortify light armor
Ingredients: luna moth wing * vampire dust * skeever tail
Abilities
"Heart of thorn... bones of the wild... in life, Forsworn...
...rise from death, Blood of our Blood."
- Briarheart Ceremony
Heart of Thorn: With her powers of focus, the Spy slows her opponent's reaction time in multiple ways, providing her the perfect amount of time to set up for a kill.
Requirements: Briarheart Necrosis toxin * slow time shout
Bones of the Wild: The Silver-Blood Spy suddenly turns into a whirling dervish of blades, tirelessly flitting about the battlefield and raining quick death upon all enemies.
Requirements: dual wielded axes * hack and slash perks * Bear of Markarth infusion * elemental fury shout
Rise from Death: The Silver-Blood Spy has risen from certain death before and will rise again from near death as she escapes to a hidden corner and waits for her body to regain its equilibrium.
Requirements: ring of Namira * lady stone * Briarheart Risen infusion
Blood of Our Blood: An opponent can only watch in terror as the Silver-Blood Spy puts him into a catatonic state while he bleeds to death from a thousand and one cuts.
Requirements: dual wielded axes * hack and slash perks * Terror of the Forsworn toxin
Roleplay
Part of the idea behind her is to experience the journey through the backwoods of the Reach as much as the destination of completing specific quests. The Silver-Blood Spy has few in the way of lengthy questlines. When not running errands for the Silver-Blood family she prefers to wander the wilds of the Reach in search of Forsworn and Hagravens to kill, hoping that she will one day stumble upon the small group that destroyed her former life.
The Silver-Blood Spy is possessed by a burning desire to seek revenge on all Forsworn and their hagraven matriarchs, and this force drives much of her personality. Having been raised in an environment that celebrates blood rites and the Daedric lords, she is not at all afraid to explore deeper and deeper pacts with those Daedra Lords, including with some that many people find distasteful.
She will take small jobs for the Jarl and others in Markarth who have had trouble with the Forsworn. But a decent portion of this character build is about seeing the sights of the Reach, especially the many back areas where the Forsworn hold sway. That said there are a few definite quests involved in playing the Silver-Blood Spy, including her inevitable “two-weeks notice” (see below).
Low-level quest recommendations: Set up the ability to use elemental fury (by completing Dragon Rising and finding at least one of the word walls and a dragon (Dragontooth Crater is recommended) before traveling to Markarth to take up her new career for the Silver-Blood family. Two words would be even better, requiring a trip through Shriekwind Bastion or up past Dragon’s Bridge, plus finding another dragon to fight. When you get to Markarth, finish the Taste of Death either before or right after starting the Forsworn Conspiracy and before other Forsworn hunting. Avoid Karthwasten until you start actually working for the Silver-Bloods.
Suggested Quests
Main Quest: Up to the end of Dragon Rising. She rejects the notion that she is the Dragonborn and then heads to Markarth. She believes the shouts she learns are gifts from the botched Briarheart process, and has nothing to do with any “Nord nonsense”.
The Forsworn Conspiracy / No One Escapes Cidhna Mine: These two connected quests should be done early in the Silver-Blood Spy’s career as it represents the former Forsworn becoming the Silver-Blood Spy. The quest is not necessarily easy at low levels though, especially if you desire to get the most out of the quest (both the Armor of the Old Gods and the Silver-Blood Family Ring to signify that you now work for them). If you do not want to try to gain both then at the least the Silver-Blood Spy will betray Madanach, the King in Rags, and begin her life as a Spy.
The Taste of Death: At her lowest ebb, when her cursed life seems unbearable, the Silver-Blood Spy meets the girl Eola who invites her to feast upon the living. In her confused state of mind, brought on by the defective Briarheart she accepts and falls ever deeper into depravity and corruption. She tries to only feast when in the wild though.
Sanuarach Mine (Karthwasten): End the dispute in favor of the Silver-Bloods by forcing Ainethach to sell the mines.
The Heart of Dibella: While exploring the city of Markarth the Silver-Blood Spy accidentally stumbles upon a Dibellan rite in their temple and must atone by finding their new Sibyl. Conveniently, the Sibyl is being held hostage by Forsworn.
The House of Horrors: Though not particularly religious she is curious about the abandoned house that the Vigilant talks about. She has no need of the Mace of Molag Bal, but is willing to hunt down the priest of Boethiah for Molag Bal as she recognizes that forging new pacts with Daedric Lords brings one power. In game terms, this quest was started primarily as the abandoned house is considered safe storage. She has no desire to become a thane for Jarl Igmund in order to purchase Vlindrel Hall, though she might consider it if Thongvor Silver-Blood becomes Jarl (see below), so having safe storage in Markarth was desirable.
A Night to Remember: While drowning her sorrows in drink she unwittingly shares a bottle with Sam Guevenne. The Sanguine Rose only increases her pact with the Daedric lords and extends her ability to summon the dark forces of Oblivion.
Civil War: Once the Spy has erased from history a portion of the Silver-Blood dealings with the Forsworn (i.e. clearing out a bunch of their forts) the family will start to progress farther into the politics of the Reach. Stormcloak supporters all, they urge the Spy to help Ulfric Stormcloak in the Civil War that rages through the land, eventually putting Thonar’s brother Thongvor Silver-Blood on the Jarl’s seat of Markarth.
Kill the Silver-Blood brothers: As she sinks ever deeper into the morass of the Silver-Blood politics the Silver-Blood Spy slowly realizes that perhaps there should be more to life, if only she can escape the clutches of the Silver-Blood family. But it won’t be easy. They know too much about her.
She realizes she can no longer take the pressures of working for the most corrupt family in Markarth. She enters the Treasury House and the palace and murders her employers in cold blood. She is at last free to do as she wishes with her cursed life. She will likely travel as far from the Reach as possible…perhaps to sell her skills for money with the Companions, searching for more pacts to form with Daedric Lords (whether or not she can, or will, use the gifted artifacts) or perhaps even as far as Solstheim, where she might eventually take up the moniker of Deathbrand.
Note: If you attempt to receive both rewards from the No One Escapes Cidhna Mine quest there is a very good chance Thonar Silver-Blood will be killed during the final battle unless you manage to keep all of the Forsworn in the ruins with you (making the battle there much more difficult). Thongvor Silver-Blood is essential and can't be killed because of his ties to becoming Jarl, but once he does become Jarl you can roleplay that you thought you killed him before you left Markarth forever.
Followers
The Silver-Blood Spy was raised in the wilds, living with a large group of other Forsworn. As she starts hunting Forsworn she is perfectly capable of traveling alone, but she does not force herself to do so, recognizing the advantage a stealthy companion can bring. She begins to learn that there are non-Forsworn who are worthy of respect. If she does take a follower she prefers one who can keep up with her in the wilds rather than a lumbering ox in heavy armor. The nightblade Eola from the Taste of Death quest is a potential follower with great synergy with the Spy as she is also a summoner.
Mod Notes
No mods are required to play this build, but for a character that could potentially spend a lot of time camping in the wilds, the Frostfall mod is a perfect addition. For a true "camping in the wilds of Skyrim" experience there is no better mod. The Realistic Needs and Diseases also adds quite a bit to the camping experience, especially if you're unprepared for it.
While I was heading to Dragontooth Crater during my test run, my Spy received both Ataxia and Witbane from animal attacks, with both diseases boosted beyond their norm, meaning I had negatives to both archery and one-handed damage, no magicka regen and a penalty to skill growth...with no cure disease items. After fighting the dragon I was able to shoot down a hawk to cure myself, but the dragon fight was incredibly harry with so many disease penalties. And gratifying when I dispatched it.
Most of the other mods I linked to above expand either the Markarth experience, or a questline related to the Spy.
Closing Notes
This character has been great fun to play. I don't generally play a dual-wielder very often, at least not in the past two years, as I tend to prefer the more measured pace of blocking and parrying, but the balls-out "dual/elemental fury/no restoration except regeneration and potions" style of combat was a refreshing change of pace for me.
Setting much of the action in and around Markarth, a great city but one I don't normally spend a whole lot of time in beyond passing through to do various quests in the area, was also a plus for me. I enjoyed wandering the hills and seeing some sights I had never actually seen in person (so to speak) in all the time I've been playing this game.
Hopefully everyone enjoys it as much as I did.
Art Credit:
If you liked this build please check out my other build The Graveknight of the Divines and my blog The Graveknight's Oath.
Basically I just opened a cropped pic on top of the wanted poster, scaled it and saved it.