From the city of Solitude resting on top of its stone arch to the icy coasts of Winterhold lit by the northern lights – Skyrim captured the imagination of fans who clamored for an Elder Scrolls game set in the Nord province since the days of Bloodmoon. Yet few things have dominated the visual language of Skyrim’s landscapes as much as its rugged mountains have. These mist-clouded peaks hide Dwemer ruins, Daedric shrines, Dragon temples, but also the Greybeard monastery of High Hrothgar.
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A Skyrim fan named Sarah decided to paint the monastery grounds in a shot familiar to all who have played the game, and she shared her completed work on the Skyrim subreddit to universal praise. This is hardly her first painting of iconic Tamriel locations, as she has done places such as High Isle from The Elder Scrolls Online and Cheydinhal from Oblivion.
The approach to High Hrothgar is a memorable moment in Skyrim’s main quest, as it takes the players on a climb through the Seven Thousand Steps, a path of pilgrimage on the Throat of the World. Though the real number of stone steps is closer to seven hundred, this journey has the Dragonborn confront a vicious frost troll before they reach the entrance to the Greybeard monastery to answer the call. Sarah captured the feeling of wonder upon seeing High Hrothgar for the first time perfectly.
Though Skyrim is an old game approaching its 11th Anniversary this month and most eyes have turned towards the next Elder Scrolls title, its Anniversary Edition has helped to revitalize the game and establish a final foundation for its modding community to thrive in. With fans still roaming through the Nord province of Tamriel, finding new ways to break the game, or discovering secrets that eluded them for over a decade, it proves that Bethesda built a truly transcendent sandbox experience. One can’t help but be excited about what the future will bring for this iconic franchise.
The Elder Scrolls 5 Skyrim: Anniversary Edition is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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