Don’t you think Skyrim is a bit… static? For all the magic and combat Skyrim offers, there is minimal importance given to the environment. The same battle could happen in ten different places, and no one would probably notice or care. But what if the environment was something to control, to assist in battle? With this idea in mind, I created a build to integrate environment manipulation into magic combat, giving rise to a character with powerful control over the battlefield. Introducing the…
---
Two silhouettes walked out of an inferno, not too long ago a peaceful little village. The larger of the two bore a large sack on his back, and he walked effortlessly through the soft sands, which was much more than the other could say.
“Mister, are you one of those fabled Warrior Priests? The ones from ‘Svahl? I can tell by your clothes… but are you?” the smaller one, a child, squeaked. No reply.
“Mister, what’s the story behind that large wound on your forehead?” Not a sound beside the distant crackling of flames and shuffling of sand.
“Mister, you dropped a book when you saved me from those elves. What was that?”
“…My Brother…” came the husky reply.
A small gasp of surprise left the child’s mouth. “Wha...”
“It was my Brother’s. His research.”
“So, where is…”
“Dead. Died protecting me from that fiend. That book was the last memento I had of him.” The sound of teeth gritting against each other resonated with the shifting of the sands upon which the two traversed.
“I overheard them saying that they were headed for Skyrim next,” the younger voice started, trying to change the subject, then immediately regretting it.
The larger silhouette stopped. Looking up, the stars in the clear night sky, all of it seemed to be a dream, but the stinging of glass made from magic-scorched sands suggested otherwise. Handing the sack full of supplies to the smaller shape, the larger one began taking larger strides, the sand beneath mysteriously solidifying. As the child, lagging behind, began to call out, a breeze, rarer than blue twin moons in those parts, carried the gruff whispers of a man scarred by war, grief and vengeance.
“Then that is where I shall go.”
“Transmutional Architecture, while similar to Mushroom-growing from Morrowind in many ways, is much more complex and abstract. While most Arcane Architects study it with the purpose of being employed for construction & the like, some study it as an art form, or even for martial combat. There are 3 main steps which govern Transmutational Architecture, and are thought to be the basis of several other less-known forms of magic.”
This is a shieldmage without a shield, instead opting to using environmental barriers. The concept remains the same: an astonishingly durable mage with powerful spells and control over the battlefield.
Race: Redguard Male. Give him a bulky frame, white hair and red irises. Small bonuses to destruction and alteration help & their racial power compensates for the lack of stamina. Their warrior-wandered vibe is a go-to. I went ahead and named him Zqaar.
Stats: 2 Magicka and 1 Health every 3 levels until Magicka is 200, then onwards 1 Magicka for 1 Health.
Stone: Lord, with Mage and Thief for training
"The first step is Comprehension, which is to decipher the mystic and mundane compositions of an object. To knows the energies in an object is to understand its actions, and to understand its substance is to know its potential. This does not only extend to objects, but plants, beasts and people and their souls as well, for All and One are fundamentally the same. Conversion of Life into Magic, detection of life and undeath, understanding latent properties in meat and plants, spiritual binding and communication, and redirection of present energies: these are all feats impossible without the ability to comprehend."
While the Arcane Architect only runs 4 skills, each is indispensable and holds a unique niche in the Arcane Architect’s modus operandi.
Destruction, The Offense: Putting the “Arc” in the Arcane Architect, Destruction is the basic damage-dealer and anti-mage tool. Shock Magic only, with occasional use of Flames. Stronger spells end skirmishes quickly, but Sparks and Wall of Storms are your go-to spells for longer battles.
Alteration, The Defense: This skill is used for crowd control with Ash/paralysis spells and defense with perks and Flesh spells. Detect spells and Light spells add some neat utility.
Heavy Armor, The Backup: There will be times when Magicka is scarce, meaning that Flesh and Shock spells are not options, and this is when Heavy armor kicks in. The respectable armor rating keeps surprise enemy attacks less effective while letting the Arcane Architect dish out cheap, but in no way low, damage with his fists.
Alchemy, The Support: Under circumstances when the first 3 skills do not suffice, Alchemy will boost the other skills to necessary, though often overkill, levels. No poisons are used since the Architect does not use weapons. Fortify Alchemy enchantments are very welcome in the inventory of the Arcane Architect for this reason. Snakeblood is a nice little bonus against Chaurus Hunters and Falmer.
Architect’s Accoutrements
The pieces are simple, tailored for the needs of the Arcane Architect: some protection, magical prowess and unarmed damage. Gauntlets will be enchanted for 5 points of unarmed damage when a filled Grand Soul Gem is obtained. Swap amulets depending on your play style.
Apart from the apparel, Auriel’s Bow will be used with Sunhallowed Arrows for its special move, but not for direct use.
Transmutation Techniques
The Arcane Architect uses Destruction and Alteration magic to slay enemies, protect himself and crash the local rare metals economy. He will not indulge in Conjuration, or use powers offered by the Daedra (Black Book powers, for example).
Offense: Sparks, Lightning Bolt, Lightning Rune, Lightning Cloak, Wall of Storms, Thunderbolt, Storm Call, Drain Vitality (2 words), Marked for Death.
Defense: Oak-Ebony Flesh, Ash shell, Ash rune, Mass Paralysis, Become Ethereal, Disarm, Bones of the Earth
Utility: Equilibrium, Magelight, Candlelight, Detect Life & Dead, Transmute, Telekinesis, Slow Time, Dragonrend, Root of Power
Note: dungeon backdooring might be necessary for certain shouts, depending on the questlines avoided.
Boosting Brews
Although powerful on his own, the Arcane Architect can push his talents to new levels with alchemy. From elemental resistances to boosting spell damage, Alchemy has it all. A Hearthfire house will allow mass-production of some potions. Windstad manor is recommended, since the Fish Hatchery gives Salmon Roe and River Betty.
Discipline: Fortify Marksman & Health Regeneration (Canis Root + Juniper Berry + Namira’s Rot)
Insulation: Resist Frost & Fire (Snowberries + Fly Amanita + Purple Mountain Flower)
Enlightenment: Mega Fortify Magicka & Magicka Regen, Restore Stamina (Salmon Roe + Jazbay Grapes + Purple Mountain Flowers)
Insight: Fortify Alteration (Grass pod + River Betty)
Smite: Fortify Destruction & Health (Nightshade + Glowing Mushroom + Wheat)
“The second step is Deconstruction. Returning all objects to their pure, original state as they were in the beginning of Nirn, an Architect is able to transform objects and their energies to a more malleable state. The malevolent forces of nature erode at objects over time, and similar to that, an Architect is able to deconstruct objects with elemental magic. Fire is used by novices, but since it produces a great deal side products, experts tend to use Lightning.”
The crux of the build is the unique combat style of the Arcane Architect. Preparation is the most important stage in combat, and will be the difference between effortless victory and utterly disgraceful ragdoll demise. General combat can be summarized into 3 stages: Preparation with Flesh and/or Cloak spells, Ranged duels using destruction magic, and finally Cleanup with melee punches and leftover Magicka. While short skirmishes seem simple and mundane, longer battles are where the Arcane Architect shines at.
Let's backtrack a bit: What are Do Not Delete Boxes? These are very unique glitch items which look like chests hidden from the player by the devs. They serves as reference values for shopkeeper gold, but can be carried and have 2 properties which make them ideal barriers: they are relatively large in size, and turn into solid floating platforms when dropped from the inventory. There are many Youtube videos on their locations and how to obtain them, and though they are marked as stolen, that can be fixed using a follower and a barrel. I did not start collecting these until before entering Bleak Falls Barrow at level 15.
Start off by using a defensive move like Slow Time or Become Ethereal, then start dropping “Do Not Delete” boxes around the battlefield. This is THE most important and trademark move of the Arcane Architect, making him much more than an average mage, and determines the outcome of battle. These DnD boxes will float around and act as barriers to keep baddies away.
Rather than making an entire fort, sealing up openings in surrounding structures is much more efficient. Keeping a couple backup barriers in the inventory never hurts. Well-planned and well-built forts let the Arcane Architect breeze through the most difficult of fights. HINT: DnD boxes are placed parallel to the surface the character is standing on, so it is recommended to set up barriers when on level ground for maximum reliability.
After setting up the fort, fire off the bigger spells (Runes and Bolts) at Archers and Mages. These foes will be top priority, since they can attack through gaps. Runes help bypass melee meatshields to get to the supporting fire directly. Melee enemies are much easier to counter, since they tend to swing in vain from behind the barriers, leaving them vulnerable to Wall of Storms and Shock.
Combos
‘Svahl Instinct: Discipline + Adrenaline Rush + Slow Time, Bones of the Earth,
The Arcane Architect is more Warrior than Priest, more than capable of using his two fists to end battles. A very simple but effective move which is usually used after Magicka runs dry. Unarmed Dual Power attacks deliver quick and effective damage, and the stamina cost is covered by Adrenaline Rush.
Ramuh’s Rage: Clear Skies, Sunhallowed Arrows + Auriel’s Bow, Storm Call
The heavens themselves smite the Arcane Architect’s foes when the tribute of a single gold arrow is made. While capable of decimating armies in seconds, it can only be used outdoors. Augmented Shock boosts the damage, as do Fortify Destruction potions.
Catalytic Calamity: Smite, Root of Power, Dual-casted Lightning Runes/Thunderbolts
Understanding the propagation of power through the earth, the Arcane Architect is able to emit powerful magics using the land’s energy and very little of his own. Secret of Arcana might be stronger, but it lasts shorter and is an off-limits Daedra’s gift. This move is used when the battle needs to be started off with huge bursts of damage. Re-acquiring the Tree Stone deters overuse.
Sparkpulse Subduer: Enlightenment + Mass Paralysis (+ Stability) + Wall of Storms
The Arcane Architect releases his inner energy as a shocking pulse, dropping surrounding foes like flies. This is a very powerful move which I tend to use when trying to rebuild my fort mid-battle, though it has its place in other situations.
“The third and final step is Reconstruction. An Architect returns the object to a desired, tangible shape and structure, completing the cycle and restoring the object to its natural plane of existence. The target particles for reconstruction do not necessarily need to be fully deconstructed, for example, dust and other debris in the air and surrounding ground can be reconstructed into a hard shell around a person, capable of protection, or with more hardness, immobilization. It is possible to create solid structures in the middle of air, deriving materials from the earth.”
The Arcane Architect is a brave and compassionate person by nature, but cold and distant by nurture. The trauma of having lost everything to the Aldmeri dominion runs deep into his heart, and he is very often consumed by his hatred and vengeance. Preferring to spend most of his time alone, the Arcane Architect might help a stranger in need, but matters are different when elves come into the picture. He cannot help but see the Altmer who killed his brother in every Mer he meets, and will be hostile to them without reason.
The Warrior Priests of ‘Svahl, the order of crusaders he hails from, teach of peace, tolerance and purity, holding life in high regard, often capturing their malpracticing marks alive. While The Arcane Architect once embraced these sentiments, he will eventually resort to crushing the vermin as a swifter and safer alternative. Any shred of compassion in his heart is reserved for people who lead honest lives, and those who do not are not worthy of being called human to him. As such, he treats Necromancers, Vampires, Thieves and Assassins much like insects.
The Warrior Priests also preach against unnatural creation and seek to eliminate conjuration or creation of matter, as these are the results of mortal hubris and demean the creations of the Divines. However, he would carry on the legacy of his deceased brother, who had tried to convince the Arcane Architect that creation and destruction are two edges of the same blade, and wield his powers without restriction.
To say that the Arcane Architect hates the Thalmor with the passion of a billion suns would still be an understatement. At any and all opportunities presented, he would kill any Thalmor, even in public executions in the middle of a Jarl’s court. The price to pay is negligible in comparison with the elimination of the accursed elves, and if the effects would ripple out to his homeland, then it is all the more worth it.
Quests
Main Quest: Unlocking latent powers, the Arcane Architect follows his destiny as the Dragonborn to rid the lands of a new threat. After discovering that the Thalmor may have had a hand in the disaster, he is all the more anxious to find out the truth. Soon he would learn that there are problems more grave and urgent than cocky elves.
Undead-related Quests: As a member of the Warrior Priests of ‘Svahl, the Arcane Architect finds it his duty to rid the land of the living dead and their puppeteers. Examples include Blood on the Ice, Ancestral Worship and Coming of Age.
Daedric Quests & Dragonborn Quest: The vile creatures from outer dimensions seem to have a penchant for corrupting mortal lives using their powerful artifacts. Find these artifacts and get rid of them, and weaken the devils' grips on the mortal realm.
Thalmor Quests: Much more personal compared to “cleansing the land of darkness”, the Arcane Architect will go out of his way to oppose the Thalmor. In hope that the effects ripple to his homeland, he will seek to weaken the Thalmor’s grip in Skyrim. Examples include Find the Thalmor Assassin, Siege on the Dragon Cult, Elisif’s Tribute, New Source of Stalhrim and Missing in Action.
Dark Brotherhood: The Dark Brotherhood are servants of Sithis, so the Arcane Architect would seek to Destroy the Dark Brotherhood.
College of Winterhold: A great institution to join to improve on Transmutional Architecture with the schools of Destruction and Alteration, while also relieving Ancano of his duties and his ever-so-daunting task of breathing.
Dawnguard: Upon invitation to cull the abominations of nature, the Arcane Architect will gladly join the Dawnguard. While the faction offers little to the Arcane Architect, obtaining Auriel's Bow is necessary to execute a powerful special move.
Vengeance: The Arcane Architect will seek out his brother’s killer, the elf whom they had failed to kill in one strike, and had paid for dearly. He will seek the “Altmer with a Fedora” all around Skyrim, but despite all his efforts, would not be able to do so. He would always wonder, however, about the strange expressions of the innkeepers and cart riders inquired, a shadow of doubt and disbelief, followed by a wordless vow to use silence to protect someone they respect.
The Arcane Architect is based off Scar (The Scarred Man) from Fullmetal Alchemist. It was a much different experience from the other mages I’ve played, with emphasis on winning the battle before it begins. Though it was a tedious build to set up (collecting Do Not Delete boxes is a pain in the knee), it was every bit worth it.
Shout-out to the Dark Purveyor and Malkoran’s Split Soul, two builds which introduced me to the environment-manipulating powers of Do Not Delete boxes and Klimmek’s Supplies. Check them out; they’re unconventional and incredibly entertaining builds.
Thank you all and I hope you enjoy this build!
Don’t you think Skyrim is a bit… static? For all the magic and combat Skyrim offers, there is minimal importance given to the environment. The same battle could happen in ten different places, and no one would probably notice or care. But what if the environment was something to control, to assist in battle? With this idea in mind, I created a build to integrate environment manipulation into magic combat, giving rise to a character with powerful control over the battlefield. Introducing the…
---
Two silhouettes walked out of an inferno, not too long ago a peaceful little village. The larger of the two bore a large sack on his back, and he walked effortlessly through the soft sands, which was much more than the other could say.
“Mister, are you one of those fabled Warrior Priests? The ones from ‘Svahl? I can tell by your clothes… but are you?” the smaller one, a child, squeaked. No reply.
“Mister, what’s the story behind that large wound on your forehead?” Not a sound beside the distant crackling of flames and shuffling of sand.
“Mister, you dropped a book when you saved me from those elves. What was that?”
“…My Brother…” came the husky reply.
A small gasp of surprise left the child’s mouth. “Wha...”
“It was my Brother’s. His research.”
“So, where is…”
“Dead. Died protecting me from that fiend. That book was the last memento I had of him.” The sound of teeth gritting against each other resonated with the shifting of the sands upon which the two traversed.
“I overheard them saying that they were headed for Skyrim next,” the younger voice started, trying to change the subject, then immediately regretting it.
The larger silhouette stopped. Looking up, the stars in the clear night sky, all of it seemed to be a dream, but the stinging of glass made from magic-scorched sands suggested otherwise. Handing the sack full of supplies to the smaller shape, the larger one began taking larger strides, the sand beneath mysteriously solidifying. As the child, lagging behind, began to call out, a breeze, rarer than blue twin moons in those parts, carried the gruff whispers of a man scarred by war, grief and vengeance.
“Then that is where I shall go.”
“Transmutional Architecture, while similar to Mushroom-growing from Morrowind in many ways, is much more complex and abstract. While most Arcane Architects study it with the purpose of being employed for construction & the like, some study it as an art form, or even for martial combat. There are 3 main steps which govern Transmutational Architecture, and are thought to be the basis of several other less-known forms of magic.”
This is a shieldmage without a shield, instead opting to using environmental barriers. The concept remains the same: an astonishingly durable mage with powerful spells and control over the battlefield.
Race: Redguard Male. Give him a bulky frame, white hair and red irises. Small bonuses to destruction and alteration help & their racial power compensates for the lack of stamina. Their warrior-wandered vibe is a go-to. I went ahead and named him Zqaar.
Stats: 2 Magicka and 1 Health every 3 levels until Magicka is 200, then onwards 1 Magicka for 1 Health.
Stone: Lord, with Mage and Thief for training
"The first step is Comprehension, which is to decipher the mystic and mundane compositions of an object. To knows the energies in an object is to understand its actions, and to understand its substance is to know its potential. This does not only extend to objects, but plants, beasts and people and their souls as well, for All and One are fundamentally the same. Conversion of Life into Magic, detection of life and undeath, understanding latent properties in meat and plants, spiritual binding and communication, and redirection of present energies: these are all feats impossible without the ability to comprehend."
While the Arcane Architect only runs 4 skills, each is indispensable and holds a unique niche in the Arcane Architect’s modus operandi.
Destruction, The Offense: Putting the “Arc” in the Arcane Architect, Destruction is the basic damage-dealer and anti-mage tool. Shock Magic only, with occasional use of Flames. Stronger spells end skirmishes quickly, but Sparks and Wall of Storms are your go-to spells for longer battles.
Alteration, The Defense: This skill is used for crowd control with Ash/paralysis spells and defense with perks and Flesh spells. Detect spells and Light spells add some neat utility.
Heavy Armor, The Backup: There will be times when Magicka is scarce, meaning that Flesh and Shock spells are not options, and this is when Heavy armor kicks in. The respectable armor rating keeps surprise enemy attacks less effective while letting the Arcane Architect dish out cheap, but in no way low, damage with his fists.
Alchemy, The Support: Under circumstances when the first 3 skills do not suffice, Alchemy will boost the other skills to necessary, though often overkill, levels. No poisons are used since the Architect does not use weapons. Fortify Alchemy enchantments are very welcome in the inventory of the Arcane Architect for this reason. Snakeblood is a nice little bonus against Chaurus Hunters and Falmer.
Architect’s Accoutrements
The pieces are simple, tailored for the needs of the Arcane Architect: some protection, magical prowess and unarmed damage. Gauntlets will be enchanted for 5 points of unarmed damage when a filled Grand Soul Gem is obtained. Swap amulets depending on your play style.
Apart from the apparel, Auriel’s Bow will be used with Sunhallowed Arrows for its special move, but not for direct use.
Transmutation Techniques
The Arcane Architect uses Destruction and Alteration magic to slay enemies, protect himself and crash the local rare metals economy. He will not indulge in Conjuration, or use powers offered by the Daedra (Black Book powers, for example).
Offense: Sparks, Lightning Bolt, Lightning Rune, Lightning Cloak, Wall of Storms, Thunderbolt, Storm Call, Drain Vitality (2 words), Marked for Death.
Defense: Oak-Ebony Flesh, Ash shell, Ash rune, Mass Paralysis, Become Ethereal, Disarm, Bones of the Earth
Utility: Equilibrium, Magelight, Candlelight, Detect Life & Dead, Transmute, Telekinesis, Slow Time, Dragonrend, Root of Power
Note: dungeon backdooring might be necessary for certain shouts, depending on the questlines avoided.
Boosting Brews
Although powerful on his own, the Arcane Architect can push his talents to new levels with alchemy. From elemental resistances to boosting spell damage, Alchemy has it all. A Hearthfire house will allow mass-production of some potions. Windstad manor is recommended, since the Fish Hatchery gives Salmon Roe and River Betty.
Discipline: Fortify Marksman & Health Regeneration (Canis Root + Juniper Berry + Namira’s Rot)
Insulation: Resist Frost & Fire (Snowberries + Fly Amanita + Purple Mountain Flower)
Enlightenment: Mega Fortify Magicka & Magicka Regen, Restore Stamina (Salmon Roe + Jazbay Grapes + Purple Mountain Flowers)
Insight: Fortify Alteration (Grass pod + River Betty)
Smite: Fortify Destruction & Health (Nightshade + Glowing Mushroom + Wheat)
“The second step is Deconstruction. Returning all objects to their pure, original state as they were in the beginning of Nirn, an Architect is able to transform objects and their energies to a more malleable state. The malevolent forces of nature erode at objects over time, and similar to that, an Architect is able to deconstruct objects with elemental magic. Fire is used by novices, but since it produces a great deal side products, experts tend to use Lightning.”
The crux of the build is the unique combat style of the Arcane Architect. Preparation is the most important stage in combat, and will be the difference between effortless victory and utterly disgraceful ragdoll demise. General combat can be summarized into 3 stages: Preparation with Flesh and/or Cloak spells, Ranged duels using destruction magic, and finally Cleanup with melee punches and leftover Magicka. While short skirmishes seem simple and mundane, longer battles are where the Arcane Architect shines at.
Let's backtrack a bit: What are Do Not Delete Boxes? These are very unique glitch items which look like chests hidden from the player by the devs. They serves as reference values for shopkeeper gold, but can be carried and have 2 properties which make them ideal barriers: they are relatively large in size, and turn into solid floating platforms when dropped from the inventory. There are many Youtube videos on their locations and how to obtain them, and though they are marked as stolen, that can be fixed using a follower and a barrel. I did not start collecting these until before entering Bleak Falls Barrow at level 15.
Start off by using a defensive move like Slow Time or Become Ethereal, then start dropping “Do Not Delete” boxes around the battlefield. This is THE most important and trademark move of the Arcane Architect, making him much more than an average mage, and determines the outcome of battle. These DnD boxes will float around and act as barriers to keep baddies away.
Rather than making an entire fort, sealing up openings in surrounding structures is much more efficient. Keeping a couple backup barriers in the inventory never hurts. Well-planned and well-built forts let the Arcane Architect breeze through the most difficult of fights. HINT: DnD boxes are placed parallel to the surface the character is standing on, so it is recommended to set up barriers when on level ground for maximum reliability.
After setting up the fort, fire off the bigger spells (Runes and Bolts) at Archers and Mages. These foes will be top priority, since they can attack through gaps. Runes help bypass melee meatshields to get to the supporting fire directly. Melee enemies are much easier to counter, since they tend to swing in vain from behind the barriers, leaving them vulnerable to Wall of Storms and Shock.
Combos
‘Svahl Instinct: Discipline + Adrenaline Rush + Slow Time, Bones of the Earth,
The Arcane Architect is more Warrior than Priest, more than capable of using his two fists to end battles. A very simple but effective move which is usually used after Magicka runs dry. Unarmed Dual Power attacks deliver quick and effective damage, and the stamina cost is covered by Adrenaline Rush.
Ramuh’s Rage: Clear Skies, Sunhallowed Arrows + Auriel’s Bow, Storm Call
The heavens themselves smite the Arcane Architect’s foes when the tribute of a single gold arrow is made. While capable of decimating armies in seconds, it can only be used outdoors. Augmented Shock boosts the damage, as do Fortify Destruction potions.
Catalytic Calamity: Smite, Root of Power, Dual-casted Lightning Runes/Thunderbolts
Understanding the propagation of power through the earth, the Arcane Architect is able to emit powerful magics using the land’s energy and very little of his own. Secret of Arcana might be stronger, but it lasts shorter and is an off-limits Daedra’s gift. This move is used when the battle needs to be started off with huge bursts of damage. Re-acquiring the Tree Stone deters overuse.
Sparkpulse Subduer: Enlightenment + Mass Paralysis (+ Stability) + Wall of Storms
The Arcane Architect releases his inner energy as a shocking pulse, dropping surrounding foes like flies. This is a very powerful move which I tend to use when trying to rebuild my fort mid-battle, though it has its place in other situations.
“The third and final step is Reconstruction. An Architect returns the object to a desired, tangible shape and structure, completing the cycle and restoring the object to its natural plane of existence. The target particles for reconstruction do not necessarily need to be fully deconstructed, for example, dust and other debris in the air and surrounding ground can be reconstructed into a hard shell around a person, capable of protection, or with more hardness, immobilization. It is possible to create solid structures in the middle of air, deriving materials from the earth.”
The Arcane Architect is a brave and compassionate person by nature, but cold and distant by nurture. The trauma of having lost everything to the Aldmeri dominion runs deep into his heart, and he is very often consumed by his hatred and vengeance. Preferring to spend most of his time alone, the Arcane Architect might help a stranger in need, but matters are different when elves come into the picture. He cannot help but see the Altmer who killed his brother in every Mer he meets, and will be hostile to them without reason.
The Warrior Priests of ‘Svahl, the order of crusaders he hails from, teach of peace, tolerance and purity, holding life in high regard, often capturing their malpracticing marks alive. While The Arcane Architect once embraced these sentiments, he will eventually resort to crushing the vermin as a swifter and safer alternative. Any shred of compassion in his heart is reserved for people who lead honest lives, and those who do not are not worthy of being called human to him. As such, he treats Necromancers, Vampires, Thieves and Assassins much like insects.
The Warrior Priests also preach against unnatural creation and seek to eliminate conjuration or creation of matter, as these are the results of mortal hubris and demean the creations of the Divines. However, he would carry on the legacy of his deceased brother, who had tried to convince the Arcane Architect that creation and destruction are two edges of the same blade, and wield his powers without restriction.
To say that the Arcane Architect hates the Thalmor with the passion of a billion suns would still be an understatement. At any and all opportunities presented, he would kill any Thalmor, even in public executions in the middle of a Jarl’s court. The price to pay is negligible in comparison with the elimination of the accursed elves, and if the effects would ripple out to his homeland, then it is all the more worth it.
Quests
Main Quest: Unlocking latent powers, the Arcane Architect follows his destiny as the Dragonborn to rid the lands of a new threat. After discovering that the Thalmor may have had a hand in the disaster, he is all the more anxious to find out the truth. Soon he would learn that there are problems more grave and urgent than cocky elves.
Undead-related Quests: As a member of the Warrior Priests of ‘Svahl, the Arcane Architect finds it his duty to rid the land of the living dead and their puppeteers. Examples include Blood on the Ice, Ancestral Worship and Coming of Age.
Daedric Quests & Dragonborn Quest: The vile creatures from outer dimensions seem to have a penchant for corrupting mortal lives using their powerful artifacts. Find these artifacts and get rid of them, and weaken the devils' grips on the mortal realm.
Thalmor Quests: Much more personal compared to “cleansing the land of darkness”, the Arcane Architect will go out of his way to oppose the Thalmor. In hope that the effects ripple to his homeland, he will seek to weaken the Thalmor’s grip in Skyrim. Examples include Find the Thalmor Assassin, Siege on the Dragon Cult, Elisif’s Tribute, New Source of Stalhrim and Missing in Action.
Dark Brotherhood: The Dark Brotherhood are servants of Sithis, so the Arcane Architect would seek to Destroy the Dark Brotherhood.
College of Winterhold: A great institution to join to improve on Transmutional Architecture with the schools of Destruction and Alteration, while also relieving Ancano of his duties and his ever-so-daunting task of breathing.
Dawnguard: Upon invitation to cull the abominations of nature, the Arcane Architect will gladly join the Dawnguard. While the faction offers little to the Arcane Architect, obtaining Auriel's Bow is necessary to execute a powerful special move.
Vengeance: The Arcane Architect will seek out his brother’s killer, the elf whom they had failed to kill in one strike, and had paid for dearly. He will seek the “Altmer with a Fedora” all around Skyrim, but despite all his efforts, would not be able to do so. He would always wonder, however, about the strange expressions of the innkeepers and cart riders inquired, a shadow of doubt and disbelief, followed by a wordless vow to use silence to protect someone they respect.
The Arcane Architect is based off Scar (The Scarred Man) from Fullmetal Alchemist. It was a much different experience from the other mages I’ve played, with emphasis on winning the battle before it begins. Though it was a tedious build to set up (collecting Do Not Delete boxes is a pain in the knee), it was every bit worth it.
Shout-out to the Dark Purveyor and Malkoran’s Split Soul, two builds which introduced me to the environment-manipulating powers of Do Not Delete boxes and Klimmek’s Supplies. Check them out; they’re unconventional and incredibly entertaining builds.
Thank you all and I hope you enjoy this build!
