Summary
For some reason, the Markarth guards fromSkyrimbrag about how safe their city is. This makes them unusual since guards in other cities like Riften might warn players not to roam the streets at night or advise them to avoid certain areas. So one is left to wonder what the deal with Markarth’s guards is, pondering if they could have some kind of secret that makes them overpowered compared to eventhe most ambitiousSkyrimguards.
To answer this question, one should first consult the Markarth city guards themselves. Of course, they are likely somewhat biased, so their word should be taken with a grain of salt, as they will say boastfully that Markarth is the “safest city in the Reach.” They don’t offer any evidence, but they do caution the player against asking too many questions.
RELATED:One Small Skyrim Bar Detail is Perfect for Immersion
Markarth, A City Of Secrets
Skyrimplayers' first impression of Markarth paints a conflicting picture. Upon arriving in the city for the first time, the Dragonborn will immediately witness a murder attempt, which fails when the guards ruthlessly cut down the perpetrator. On one hand, the guards do their job subduing the would-be murderer with admirable efficiency. On the other hand, the entire scene makes Markarth seem a lot more dangerous than the guards are letting on.
It’s no secret that in Markarth, criminals (the ones that survive long enough to be detained) are subjected to back-breaking labor in theCidhna silver minefor the duration of their sentence. The guards tell the Dragonborn this themselves; if they cause any trouble they’ll get thrown in the mine, which serves as Markarth’s prison.
The Silver-Blood Family
This is where things get a little murky. The mine itself is owned by the Silver-Blood family, the most powerful political family in Markarth. Eventually, it is revealed through theSkyrimquestline “Forsworn Conspiracy"that the head of the family Thonar is using his power to hold the Forsworn leader Madanach captive. Thonar effectively controls all the money in the Reach through his financial institution, Treasury House.
EvenMarkarth’s Jarl Igmundwon’t mess with the Silver-Blood family. Raelek and Faleen, his steward and housecarl, advise the Jarl to imprison the Silver-Bloods. Igmund shoots down the idea saying it would be foolish to attempt to imprison the owners of the prison. This Jarl doesn’t seem to be in control of his own city at all. The implication is that the city’s guard is deep in the Silver-Blood family’s pockets.
Markarth Guards Are Corrupt
Perhaps what makes Markarth guards overpowered is corruption. They might be inclined to play fast and loose with the law if there is some kind of incentive for keeping Cidnha Mine operational with free labor. It’s not unthinkable that a corrupt guard would lie about Markarth being the safest city in the Reach, but there may yet be some truth to this tale.
Something that sets Markarth guards apart from almost every otherSkyrimcity guard(the exception being Riften) is that they are Soldier class NPCs as opposed to Warrior class. While the Warrior class generally has slightly higher weapon skills than Soldier class NPCs, the Soldier class has a higher base stamina. Blow for blow, a Markarth guard might win a fight against even fellow guards.
Markarth Is Worse Than Riften
If the Markarth guards and the Riften guards are equally matched on paper, one has to look a little closer to see the differences. Riften guards are also corrupt, as they will even ask the player to pay a “visitors tax” upon their first visit to the city. The Markarth guards arguably have Riften guards beat in their base levels of corruption. Markarth is not known for its criminal underworld, and while the city has its problems, it could be considered safer in terms of regular criminal activity.
In short, it seems thatMarkarth’s guards are secretly overpoweredpartly due to their proximity to the Silver-Blood family, and for this reason, they are likely better funded than most city guards. They are also quite literally in a different class to most other city guards, which might make them a more effective force.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimis available now for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
