Note: I am aware that a previous Ornstein build was created on TamrielVault by Chris Diokno. However, I wanted to try my hand at my own Ornstein build, so there may be a few similarities between the builds. I am NOT attempting to copy/plagiarize his build.
Also, the setup of this build assumes that Ornstein was killed last during the battle at Anor Londo
(Build recently edited and overhauled on 4/5/16)
Now, I give you...
Ornstein The Dragonslayer
"We are amidst strange beings in a strange land. The flow of time itself is convoluted; with heroes centuries old phasing in and out. The very fabric wavers, and relations shift and obscure. There's no telling how long your world and mine will remain in contact.."
- Solaire of Astora
Meet Ornstein, leader of the Four Knights of Gwyn, protector of Princess Gwynevere, and a guardian of Anor Londo, the home of the Gods... Or at least he was. After his defeat at the hands of the Chosen Undead, he remembers nothing. He feels nothing, and the last thing he can remember was the blinding flash of light as he collapsed to the ground; defeated. However, it was not the end. After what felt like eternity, faint shouts whispered to his ears. The smell of smoke, the taste of blood in the air... A battle! Suddenly, as quickly as the sounds came, they were gone. For a brief moment, silence ensued once again. Then, the Dragonslayer awakens. He finds himself sitting in a horse drawn carriage; his hands bound, his armor gone, and his trusty spear missing. He soon learns that he is a prisoner; about to be executed unjustly. But just when the axe is about to fall, a Dragon, Ornstein's ancient enemy, attacks; unknowingly freeing Ornstein from the clutches of death. After fighting his way out of the doomed town, the Dragonslayer learns that he is no longer in Lordran. He is no longer meant to serve Lord Gwyn, no longer meant to guard Anor Londo. He is on his own; free to forge his own destiny. The only question, is where to begin...
Essentially, Ornstein's build is a speedy, high damage build, utilizing light armor and fast lightning attacks to destroy his foes. Unfortunately, as we all know, there are no spears in Skryim. So the only weapon skill that would apply to Ornstein are the two-handed weapons. The best choice would be a Greatsword, as it is a fast, yet high-damaging weapon class. Now, a lot of the weapons and armor choices can be acquired fairly quickly and at low levels, so you'll be able to get the build going at a much earlier stage of the game. Then you can get back to what you do best; Dragon slaying...
Basic Setup
Race: Nord. Ornstein was at least twice as tall as the player in Dark Souls, but was also human. In keeping with those two traits, Nord is the best option. Not only is it the tallest human race, but it also comes with a +5 bonus in Smithing, and a +10 bonus in Two Handed; two of the major skills in this build. The Battle Cry skill is a nice touch as well, as you can scare the absolute crap out of most of your enemies.
Now, for gender, we want to stick with male. As for physical appearance, that's for you to decide. We never get to see Ornstein beneath the helmet, so you can pretty much give him whatever facial appearance you want. I gave my Ornstein a skinnier stature, as well as blonde hair, and a small beard.
Standing Stone: For the beginning levels, the Warrior Stone would be the best choice. It'll help level up your armor and combat stats a bit quicker than normal. Once you get into the higher levels (20+), you can either switch to the Steed Stone, or the Lord Stone. The Steed Stone would be a better option, as it eliminates the weight of equipped armor, and makes it so armor will not slow you down. You'll also get an extra 100 points of carry weight.
The Lord Stone is another option, and using it will give you +50 points in armor rating, and +25% resistance to magic. Essentially, it all depends on whether you want more speed (Steed), or more armor (Lord).
Stat Spread: 1/2/2 For this build, stamina and health are the most important stats. You'll need health to be able to tank most hits, without the use of a shield (Dragonslayers need no such things), and the stamina to move from target to target, and eliminate them quickly. Once you hit level 25, you can stop leveling magicka (it's only needed for the Lightning Bolt spell), and continue leveling health and stamina in the same way.
Suggested Quests: Main quest, Civil War (Stormcloaks), Companions (Up to Silver Hand), Dawnguard, Dragonborn, Meridia's Beacon, any side quests that involve helping people, bounties, and slaying Dragons, etc...
Equipment and Weapons:
Helm of the Dragonslayer
Zahkriisos - For the helm, Ornstein chooses the Zahkriisos One of the heavy armor class Dragon Priest masks, this mask sports an enchantment that fits in perfectly with Ornstein's fighting style. It gives an extra 50% shock resistance, as well as an extra 25% boost in shock damage. Since Ornstein's chosen enchantment is Lightning, it's no wonder that he would select this mask.
Armor of the Dragonslayer:
Elven Gilded Armor - Light, sturdy and reliable, Ornstein selects the Elven Gilded armor for the arms, legs and chest. Ornstein values light armor choices in order to keep himself mobile on the battlefield. He prefers to perform speedy hit and run attacks, jumping in when he sees a weak point, then backing off until he finds another. The elven armor provides the perfect balance of weight and armor, and is exactly why Ornstein prefers it.
The Leo Ring:
A ring of the player's choice - Before Ornstein was reborn in Skyrim, he was given a ring by Lord Gwyn. Named, "The Leo Ring", it essentially gave him extra attack power when fighting with his spear. When Ornstein arrived in Skyrim, his armor, spear, and ring were lost. Now, Ornstein must forge his own ring, and attempt to place the same enchantment upon it. Except now, he must find away to enchant it so it augments the attacks with his Greatswords
Greatswords of the Dragonslayer:
Stormfang and the Elven Greatsword - Since Ornstein's chosen element is lightning, he'll want to get his hands on a lightning weapon as soon as possible. Lucky for him, one is in almost immediate reach. Stormfang. A steel greatsword with the elemental ability to dish out 30 points of shock damage per hit, and half as much as magicka damage. He'll have to travel to Solstheim in order to obtain it, but it'll be like reuniting with his treasured Dragonslayer spear...in greatsword form.
The second weapon Ornstein chooses is an Elven greatsword. But first, why would he choose a second weapon? Isn't he satisfied with Stormfang? In truth, a Dragonslayer must always be prepared. Enchanted weapons slowly wear down after each use, and require recharging. Sometimes they run dry in the heat of battle. In order to avoid losing valuable attack power, Ornstein carries a secondary Elven greatsword, ready to be swapped just in case Stormfang's enchantment runs out.
Skills and Perks
(Note: The primary perk allocations total to a Level 30 Ornstein)
Primary:
. Two Handed - This the main attack skill of the Dragonslayer, as the weapon of choice is the Greatsword. In order to get the highest damage numbers from your weapon, the perks listed below are recommended. They are as follows:
Barbarian (5/5)
Deep Wounds (3/3)
Champion's Stance (1/1)
Devestating Blow (1/1)
Great Critical Charge (1/1)
. Smithing - This is probably the most important skill of the Dragonslayer, as Ornstein will need to forge his own weapon, ring and armor set (excluding Stormfang). Luckily, Ornstein has a little training in Smithing, giving him five bonus levels (level 20). But Ornstein is no forge master, so he will have to train his smithing skills, working his way up to the skill level where he can make his Elven armor and greatsword (Requires level 30). The perks needed are as follows:
Steel Smithing (1/1)
Elven Smithing (1/1)
. Light Armor - Another important skill for Ornstein. Since his armor of choice falls under light armor, this skill is one of the most important skills to level. The skill increases the amount of damage that is negated while wearing light armor, which is important since a shield won't be used. The perks needed are as follows:
Agile Defender (5/5)
. Destruction - Unfortunately, Ornstein no longer has the ability to fire lightning bolts from his chosen weapons. So, he will have to invest in magic training. Specifically, Destruction magic. Now, the spell of choice for Ornstein is the Lightning Bolt spell, which, as it sounds, fires a bolt of lightning from his hand. Now, since Ornstein has never trained in magical arts before, he has fairly small magicka pool. As a result, a few points will need to be invested in Destruction in order to get the highest amount of damage. The perks needed are as follows:
Novice Destruction (1/1)
Apprentice Destruction (1/1)
Augmented Shock (2/2)
Disintegrate (1/1)
Minor:
. Block - There will be times where Ornstein will need to block attacks. However, Dragonslayers do not make use of shields, as it interferes with their ability to move quickly on the battlefield. So, Ornstein will instead block using his own weapon as a shield. In order to block the most amount of damage, Ornstein will need to undergo some defensive training, which will require some perk investments. The perks needed are as follows:
Shield Wall (5/5)
Quick Reflexes (1/1)
Perk Spread (Level 30)
Roleplay:
. Defend those in need, destroy those who prey upon the needy: You are a Knight of Gwyn, a pure force of good. You always aim to protect those in need, to drive off those who wish to do harm to the innocent. Accept any and all side quests that involve helping someone in need, clearing a bandit camp, and Dragon Hunts.
. Pursue and destroy any Dragons you see, regardless of what they're doing, and where they are (excluding Paarthurnax): As the Dragonslayer, it is your sworn duty to hunt down and destroy any remaining Dragons. You will pursue them until you have dealt the killing blow. However, there is one Dragon that you cannot kill. Paarthurnax. After a long time of grappling with yourself, you grudgingly call him ally. As time passes, you later call him friend. You no longer consider him to be the enemy, and in turn, you cannot bring yourself to kill him.
. An Undead was responsible for your death, and subsequent arrival in Skyrim, so you will be responsible for their demise: The last thing you remember of Anor Londo, the captial city of Lordran, was falling at the hands of the Chosen Undead. Now reborn in Skyrim, your hatred for the Undead is almost as fierce as your hatred for dragons. You will soon find yourself as allied under Meridia, the Daedric Princess of Life and Energy, who, like you, also despises the Undead.
. Do not sneak; always engage your opponent head on: You are a guardian, a Dragonslayer, and a Knight of Gwyn. You have no need for stealth. You never back down from a challenge, you never try to worm your way out of situations. If something calls for a fight; so be it. You have thousands of years of training under your belt. Nothing will ever stop you.
. Take swift revenge on those who double cross you: Unlike the other Knights of Gwyn, you are known to seek revenge against those who betray you. You will hunt down your foe to the very corners of the world, and will not rest until your enemy lies dead at your feet. Due to your close call with execution at the hands of the Empire, you ally yourself with the Stormcloaks. You will not rest until their leader, General Tullius lies dead at your feet. If you see any Imperial soldiers, attack them without hesitation. Teach them the meaning of the phrase. "Don't mess with the Dragonslayer".
Gameplay:
Starting Out: After the "Unbound" quest begins, proceed as you normally would, but side with Ralof. After clearing the cave and splitting up with Ralof, immediately clear out Embershard Mine. There's a high chance you'll gain access to an Iron Greatsword and a healthy supply of gold. You'll only be using the Iron Greatsword until you get Stormfang, which will require being visited by the Cultists. There will also be a skill book for Smithing near one of the forges inside, so be sure to read it for a free level. Once the mine is clear, move over to the standing stones and equip the Warrior Stone.
Next, warn Riverwood of the dragon attack, then go to Whiterun. Complete Bleak Falls Barrow, and defeat the Dragon by the watchtower. Next, visit the Greybeards to get the Whirlwind Sprint shout, but do not retrieve the horn yet. Go back to Riverwood, and the Cultists should appear. Kill them, and promptly travel to Solstheim. After you arrive, travel to Brodir Grove and kill the Reaver Lord who carries Stormfang. Congrats! Now play through the game as you normally would
Skill Leveling Guide: Here, you have a bit of freedom on how you want to level yourself. You can immediately begin pumping the Light Armor and Smithing perks from level one. I'd recommend that you finish leveling Smithing from level 20 to 30 before you hit level 7. That way, you'll have access to Ornstein's elven armor and greatsword relatively early on, and all of your Light Armor perks will be filled. Once those two skills are completed, focus on Two Handed, Destruction and Block perks equally, rotating their leveling until you finish at character level 30.
Guilds: The main (and only) guild that fits Ornstein would be the Companions (only up to the Silver Hand). The Dark Brotherhood, Thieves Guild, Bards College, and the College of Winterhold would not fit Ornstein's character, as he is not an assassin, thief, bard or a mage. If you wanted another faction quest, you could complete the "Destroying the Dark Brotherhood" questline, but this is ENTIRELY optional.
Daedric Quests: Based on Ornstein's hatred of the Undead, it's no surprise that he would pledge himself to Meridia. Since Ornstein is a Knight of Gwyn, he cannot do any of the other Daedric quests, as they force him to commit acts that go his nature to protect the weak in the land of Skyrim.
Followers: Prior to Ornstein's rebirth in Skyrim, he was chosen to guard Princess Gwynevere alongside Executioner Smough, pictured above. While Dragonslayers are trained to operate alone, there will be times when an ally is needed in a fight. In the land of Skyrim, there is a man named Benor, who lives in Morthal. He shares many traits with Smough, such as utilizing heavy armor, and a Warhammer. Now, the one thing that ties Benor and Smough together is a particular past event. Benor attempted to apply for guard duty, but was denied acceptance into their ranks. (In Smough's case, he was denied acceptance to the Four Knights of Gwyn). Based on these traits, Ornstein has reason to belive that Benor may indeed be a reborn Smough.
Now, in order to acquire Benor as a follower, Ornstein will have to brawl with him, and win (The Executioner has a real mean streak). At that point, he will become a handy follower to Ornstein. Before beginning their adventures, Benor needs proper equipment. Forge him an Elven Warhammer as a token of your partnership. Purchase him a full set of Dwarven heavy armor (enchantments optional) to remind him of the armor he once wore. Once he's properly equipped, Ornstein and "Smough" are free to fight alongside each other once more.
Special Moves/Abilities:
Shouts: - Now, there are only a select few shouts that Ornstein can utilize; the most important one being Whirlwind Sprint. Many of these shouts can be combined into devastating attacks, which will be covered next. Here are the shouts this build can use: Whirlwind Sprint, Elemental Fury, Dismay, Dragonrend, Marked for Death, and Dragon Aspect
Special Moves: - Based on the shouts listed above, and the weapon choice of a greatsword, there are a lot of different moves and that can be created and used in combat. However, there are two main moves that really compliment Ornstein's speedy fighting style, and are fairly simple to pull off. The first is called "Dragonslayer Charge", and the second is called "Dragonslayer's Fury".
Dragonslayer's Charge:
This is, without a doubt, Ornstein's most iconic move. He essentially glides across the ground, speeding forward at a ridiculous speed, before impaling his foe with the tip of his spear. Now a resident of Skyrim, Ornstein has replicated this move using Stormfang, his primary greatsword. To perform the move, all he needs to do is identify a target, Whirlwind Sprint directly to them, and attack with Stormfang. While he no longer had the knockdown effect of the original attack, there's nothing scarier then seeing Ornstein blasting toward you with his weapon aimed directly at your chest.
Dragonslayer's Fury:
Essentially a sped up version of the attacks shown in the above, Dragonslayer's Fury makes use of the Elemental Fury shout. Unfortunately, enchanted weapons like Stormfang are not compatible with Elemental Fury, so this is where the Elven Greatsword comes into play. Using the weapon, acquire a target and activate the shout. Now, the main combo setup Ornstein follows is 2 regular swings, followed by an overhead heavy attack. The high damage coupled with the speedy attacks allow Ornstein to use this move in virtually any fighting situation.
Final Notes:
. Please understand that this build is merely my view of what an Ornstein build could look like in Skyrim. You don't have to follow everything I put down to the letter. Feel free to make your own changes, make your own strategies, and come up with your own special moves.
. This build was constructed and optimized for the Xbox 360 version of Skyrim, so mods were unable to be used. However, I am aware that there is a mod on PC called "Set of Thorns". Despite the title, it is an excellent mod of Ornstein's armor, and you can use it for the armor pieces if you so choose. (Offhand, I don't know the name of the mod creator, but I'm sure you can find it through Google)
. And most of all, remember to have fun! ^-^
You don't mess with the Dragonslayer
Note: I am aware that a previous Ornstein build was created on TamrielVault by Chris Diokno. However, I wanted to try my hand at my own Ornstein build, so there may be a few similarities between the builds. I am NOT attempting to copy/plagiarize his build.
Also, the setup of this build assumes that Ornstein was killed last during the battle at Anor Londo
(Build recently edited and overhauled on 4/5/16)
Now, I give you...
Ornstein The Dragonslayer
"We are amidst strange beings in a strange land. The flow of time itself is convoluted; with heroes centuries old phasing in and out. The very fabric wavers, and relations shift and obscure. There's no telling how long your world and mine will remain in contact.."
- Solaire of Astora
Meet Ornstein, leader of the Four Knights of Gwyn, protector of Princess Gwynevere, and a guardian of Anor Londo, the home of the Gods... Or at least he was. After his defeat at the hands of the Chosen Undead, he remembers nothing. He feels nothing, and the last thing he can remember was the blinding flash of light as he collapsed to the ground; defeated. However, it was not the end. After what felt like eternity, faint shouts whispered to his ears. The smell of smoke, the taste of blood in the air... A battle! Suddenly, as quickly as the sounds came, they were gone. For a brief moment, silence ensued once again. Then, the Dragonslayer awakens. He finds himself sitting in a horse drawn carriage; his hands bound, his armor gone, and his trusty spear missing. He soon learns that he is a prisoner; about to be executed unjustly. But just when the axe is about to fall, a Dragon, Ornstein's ancient enemy, attacks; unknowingly freeing Ornstein from the clutches of death. After fighting his way out of the doomed town, the Dragonslayer learns that he is no longer in Lordran. He is no longer meant to serve Lord Gwyn, no longer meant to guard Anor Londo. He is on his own; free to forge his own destiny. The only question, is where to begin...
Essentially, Ornstein's build is a speedy, high damage build, utilizing light armor and fast lightning attacks to destroy his foes. Unfortunately, as we all know, there are no spears in Skryim. So the only weapon skill that would apply to Ornstein are the two-handed weapons. The best choice would be a Greatsword, as it is a fast, yet high-damaging weapon class. Now, a lot of the weapons and armor choices can be acquired fairly quickly and at low levels, so you'll be able to get the build going at a much earlier stage of the game. Then you can get back to what you do best; Dragon slaying...
Basic Setup
Race: Nord. Ornstein was at least twice as tall as the player in Dark Souls, but was also human. In keeping with those two traits, Nord is the best option. Not only is it the tallest human race, but it also comes with a +5 bonus in Smithing, and a +10 bonus in Two Handed; two of the major skills in this build. The Battle Cry skill is a nice touch as well, as you can scare the absolute crap out of most of your enemies.
Now, for gender, we want to stick with male. As for physical appearance, that's for you to decide. We never get to see Ornstein beneath the helmet, so you can pretty much give him whatever facial appearance you want. I gave my Ornstein a skinnier stature, as well as blonde hair, and a small beard.
Standing Stone: For the beginning levels, the Warrior Stone would be the best choice. It'll help level up your armor and combat stats a bit quicker than normal. Once you get into the higher levels (20+), you can either switch to the Steed Stone, or the Lord Stone. The Steed Stone would be a better option, as it eliminates the weight of equipped armor, and makes it so armor will not slow you down. You'll also get an extra 100 points of carry weight.
The Lord Stone is another option, and using it will give you +50 points in armor rating, and +25% resistance to magic. Essentially, it all depends on whether you want more speed (Steed), or more armor (Lord).
Stat Spread: 1/2/2 For this build, stamina and health are the most important stats. You'll need health to be able to tank most hits, without the use of a shield (Dragonslayers need no such things), and the stamina to move from target to target, and eliminate them quickly. Once you hit level 25, you can stop leveling magicka (it's only needed for the Lightning Bolt spell), and continue leveling health and stamina in the same way.
Suggested Quests: Main quest, Civil War (Stormcloaks), Companions (Up to Silver Hand), Dawnguard, Dragonborn, Meridia's Beacon, any side quests that involve helping people, bounties, and slaying Dragons, etc...
Equipment and Weapons:
Helm of the Dragonslayer
Zahkriisos - For the helm, Ornstein chooses the Zahkriisos One of the heavy armor class Dragon Priest masks, this mask sports an enchantment that fits in perfectly with Ornstein's fighting style. It gives an extra 50% shock resistance, as well as an extra 25% boost in shock damage. Since Ornstein's chosen enchantment is Lightning, it's no wonder that he would select this mask.
Armor of the Dragonslayer:
Elven Gilded Armor - Light, sturdy and reliable, Ornstein selects the Elven Gilded armor for the arms, legs and chest. Ornstein values light armor choices in order to keep himself mobile on the battlefield. He prefers to perform speedy hit and run attacks, jumping in when he sees a weak point, then backing off until he finds another. The elven armor provides the perfect balance of weight and armor, and is exactly why Ornstein prefers it.
The Leo Ring:
A ring of the player's choice - Before Ornstein was reborn in Skyrim, he was given a ring by Lord Gwyn. Named, "The Leo Ring", it essentially gave him extra attack power when fighting with his spear. When Ornstein arrived in Skyrim, his armor, spear, and ring were lost. Now, Ornstein must forge his own ring, and attempt to place the same enchantment upon it. Except now, he must find away to enchant it so it augments the attacks with his Greatswords
Greatswords of the Dragonslayer:
Stormfang and the Elven Greatsword - Since Ornstein's chosen element is lightning, he'll want to get his hands on a lightning weapon as soon as possible. Lucky for him, one is in almost immediate reach. Stormfang. A steel greatsword with the elemental ability to dish out 30 points of shock damage per hit, and half as much as magicka damage. He'll have to travel to Solstheim in order to obtain it, but it'll be like reuniting with his treasured Dragonslayer spear...in greatsword form.
The second weapon Ornstein chooses is an Elven greatsword. But first, why would he choose a second weapon? Isn't he satisfied with Stormfang? In truth, a Dragonslayer must always be prepared. Enchanted weapons slowly wear down after each use, and require recharging. Sometimes they run dry in the heat of battle. In order to avoid losing valuable attack power, Ornstein carries a secondary Elven greatsword, ready to be swapped just in case Stormfang's enchantment runs out.
Skills and Perks
(Note: The primary perk allocations total to a Level 30 Ornstein)
Primary:
. Two Handed - This the main attack skill of the Dragonslayer, as the weapon of choice is the Greatsword. In order to get the highest damage numbers from your weapon, the perks listed below are recommended. They are as follows:
Barbarian (5/5)
Deep Wounds (3/3)
Champion's Stance (1/1)
Devestating Blow (1/1)
Great Critical Charge (1/1)
. Smithing - This is probably the most important skill of the Dragonslayer, as Ornstein will need to forge his own weapon, ring and armor set (excluding Stormfang). Luckily, Ornstein has a little training in Smithing, giving him five bonus levels (level 20). But Ornstein is no forge master, so he will have to train his smithing skills, working his way up to the skill level where he can make his Elven armor and greatsword (Requires level 30). The perks needed are as follows:
Steel Smithing (1/1)
Elven Smithing (1/1)
. Light Armor - Another important skill for Ornstein. Since his armor of choice falls under light armor, this skill is one of the most important skills to level. The skill increases the amount of damage that is negated while wearing light armor, which is important since a shield won't be used. The perks needed are as follows:
Agile Defender (5/5)
. Destruction - Unfortunately, Ornstein no longer has the ability to fire lightning bolts from his chosen weapons. So, he will have to invest in magic training. Specifically, Destruction magic. Now, the spell of choice for Ornstein is the Lightning Bolt spell, which, as it sounds, fires a bolt of lightning from his hand. Now, since Ornstein has never trained in magical arts before, he has fairly small magicka pool. As a result, a few points will need to be invested in Destruction in order to get the highest amount of damage. The perks needed are as follows:
Novice Destruction (1/1)
Apprentice Destruction (1/1)
Augmented Shock (2/2)
Disintegrate (1/1)
Minor:
. Block - There will be times where Ornstein will need to block attacks. However, Dragonslayers do not make use of shields, as it interferes with their ability to move quickly on the battlefield. So, Ornstein will instead block using his own weapon as a shield. In order to block the most amount of damage, Ornstein will need to undergo some defensive training, which will require some perk investments. The perks needed are as follows:
Shield Wall (5/5)
Quick Reflexes (1/1)
Perk Spread (Level 30)
Roleplay:
. Defend those in need, destroy those who prey upon the needy: You are a Knight of Gwyn, a pure force of good. You always aim to protect those in need, to drive off those who wish to do harm to the innocent. Accept any and all side quests that involve helping someone in need, clearing a bandit camp, and Dragon Hunts.
. Pursue and destroy any Dragons you see, regardless of what they're doing, and where they are (excluding Paarthurnax): As the Dragonslayer, it is your sworn duty to hunt down and destroy any remaining Dragons. You will pursue them until you have dealt the killing blow. However, there is one Dragon that you cannot kill. Paarthurnax. After a long time of grappling with yourself, you grudgingly call him ally. As time passes, you later call him friend. You no longer consider him to be the enemy, and in turn, you cannot bring yourself to kill him.
. An Undead was responsible for your death, and subsequent arrival in Skyrim, so you will be responsible for their demise: The last thing you remember of Anor Londo, the captial city of Lordran, was falling at the hands of the Chosen Undead. Now reborn in Skyrim, your hatred for the Undead is almost as fierce as your hatred for dragons. You will soon find yourself as allied under Meridia, the Daedric Princess of Life and Energy, who, like you, also despises the Undead.
. Do not sneak; always engage your opponent head on: You are a guardian, a Dragonslayer, and a Knight of Gwyn. You have no need for stealth. You never back down from a challenge, you never try to worm your way out of situations. If something calls for a fight; so be it. You have thousands of years of training under your belt. Nothing will ever stop you.
. Take swift revenge on those who double cross you: Unlike the other Knights of Gwyn, you are known to seek revenge against those who betray you. You will hunt down your foe to the very corners of the world, and will not rest until your enemy lies dead at your feet. Due to your close call with execution at the hands of the Empire, you ally yourself with the Stormcloaks. You will not rest until their leader, General Tullius lies dead at your feet. If you see any Imperial soldiers, attack them without hesitation. Teach them the meaning of the phrase. "Don't mess with the Dragonslayer".
Gameplay:
Starting Out: After the "Unbound" quest begins, proceed as you normally would, but side with Ralof. After clearing the cave and splitting up with Ralof, immediately clear out Embershard Mine. There's a high chance you'll gain access to an Iron Greatsword and a healthy supply of gold. You'll only be using the Iron Greatsword until you get Stormfang, which will require being visited by the Cultists. There will also be a skill book for Smithing near one of the forges inside, so be sure to read it for a free level. Once the mine is clear, move over to the standing stones and equip the Warrior Stone.
Next, warn Riverwood of the dragon attack, then go to Whiterun. Complete Bleak Falls Barrow, and defeat the Dragon by the watchtower. Next, visit the Greybeards to get the Whirlwind Sprint shout, but do not retrieve the horn yet. Go back to Riverwood, and the Cultists should appear. Kill them, and promptly travel to Solstheim. After you arrive, travel to Brodir Grove and kill the Reaver Lord who carries Stormfang. Congrats! Now play through the game as you normally would
Skill Leveling Guide: Here, you have a bit of freedom on how you want to level yourself. You can immediately begin pumping the Light Armor and Smithing perks from level one. I'd recommend that you finish leveling Smithing from level 20 to 30 before you hit level 7. That way, you'll have access to Ornstein's elven armor and greatsword relatively early on, and all of your Light Armor perks will be filled. Once those two skills are completed, focus on Two Handed, Destruction and Block perks equally, rotating their leveling until you finish at character level 30.
Guilds: The main (and only) guild that fits Ornstein would be the Companions (only up to the Silver Hand). The Dark Brotherhood, Thieves Guild, Bards College, and the College of Winterhold would not fit Ornstein's character, as he is not an assassin, thief, bard or a mage. If you wanted another faction quest, you could complete the "Destroying the Dark Brotherhood" questline, but this is ENTIRELY optional.
Daedric Quests: Based on Ornstein's hatred of the Undead, it's no surprise that he would pledge himself to Meridia. Since Ornstein is a Knight of Gwyn, he cannot do any of the other Daedric quests, as they force him to commit acts that go his nature to protect the weak in the land of Skyrim.
Followers: Prior to Ornstein's rebirth in Skyrim, he was chosen to guard Princess Gwynevere alongside Executioner Smough, pictured above. While Dragonslayers are trained to operate alone, there will be times when an ally is needed in a fight. In the land of Skyrim, there is a man named Benor, who lives in Morthal. He shares many traits with Smough, such as utilizing heavy armor, and a Warhammer. Now, the one thing that ties Benor and Smough together is a particular past event. Benor attempted to apply for guard duty, but was denied acceptance into their ranks. (In Smough's case, he was denied acceptance to the Four Knights of Gwyn). Based on these traits, Ornstein has reason to belive that Benor may indeed be a reborn Smough.
Now, in order to acquire Benor as a follower, Ornstein will have to brawl with him, and win (The Executioner has a real mean streak). At that point, he will become a handy follower to Ornstein. Before beginning their adventures, Benor needs proper equipment. Forge him an Elven Warhammer as a token of your partnership. Purchase him a full set of Dwarven heavy armor (enchantments optional) to remind him of the armor he once wore. Once he's properly equipped, Ornstein and "Smough" are free to fight alongside each other once more.
Special Moves/Abilities:
Shouts: - Now, there are only a select few shouts that Ornstein can utilize; the most important one being Whirlwind Sprint. Many of these shouts can be combined into devastating attacks, which will be covered next. Here are the shouts this build can use: Whirlwind Sprint, Elemental Fury, Dismay, Dragonrend, Marked for Death, and Dragon Aspect
Special Moves: - Based on the shouts listed above, and the weapon choice of a greatsword, there are a lot of different moves and that can be created and used in combat. However, there are two main moves that really compliment Ornstein's speedy fighting style, and are fairly simple to pull off. The first is called "Dragonslayer Charge", and the second is called "Dragonslayer's Fury".
Dragonslayer's Charge:
This is, without a doubt, Ornstein's most iconic move. He essentially glides across the ground, speeding forward at a ridiculous speed, before impaling his foe with the tip of his spear. Now a resident of Skyrim, Ornstein has replicated this move using Stormfang, his primary greatsword. To perform the move, all he needs to do is identify a target, Whirlwind Sprint directly to them, and attack with Stormfang. While he no longer had the knockdown effect of the original attack, there's nothing scarier then seeing Ornstein blasting toward you with his weapon aimed directly at your chest.
Dragonslayer's Fury:
Essentially a sped up version of the attacks shown in the above, Dragonslayer's Fury makes use of the Elemental Fury shout. Unfortunately, enchanted weapons like Stormfang are not compatible with Elemental Fury, so this is where the Elven Greatsword comes into play. Using the weapon, acquire a target and activate the shout. Now, the main combo setup Ornstein follows is 2 regular swings, followed by an overhead heavy attack. The high damage coupled with the speedy attacks allow Ornstein to use this move in virtually any fighting situation.
Final Notes:
. Please understand that this build is merely my view of what an Ornstein build could look like in Skyrim. You don't have to follow everything I put down to the letter. Feel free to make your own changes, make your own strategies, and come up with your own special moves.
. This build was constructed and optimized for the Xbox 360 version of Skyrim, so mods were unable to be used. However, I am aware that there is a mod on PC called "Set of Thorns". Despite the title, it is an excellent mod of Ornstein's armor, and you can use it for the armor pieces if you so choose. (Offhand, I don't know the name of the mod creator, but I'm sure you can find it through Google)
. And most of all, remember to have fun! ^-^
You don't mess with the Dragonslayer
