Crafting Motif 18 : Akaviri Content . By Holgunn One - Eye King Jorunn wants a description of the Akaviri styles of arms and armor written by someone who knows them . I don ' t think anyone killed more Akaviri than I did during the recent invasion from Kamal , so I guess that makes me an expert in their wares of war . Besides , who else was I going to get to write this ? Rigurt ? AXES Kamal , the region of Akavir where the recent invaders hail from , is said to be icy and snow - covered , so it ' s no surprise that Kamali axes resemble those made by us Nords of Skyrim . The one - handed weapons , in particular , are clearly descended from the kind of ice - axes we use when crossing glaciers or scaling icy peaks . BELTS An Akaviri belt usually sports a prominent boss on its buckle , with an abstract sigil that ' s probably clan - related . These symbols are always symmetrical , and usually made of interwoven flowing designs . For several years I wore one taken from an officer I slew , and it was strong and well - made . BOOTS Boots of the northern Akaviri tend to be simple and utilitarian , for trudging through the deep snows of Kamal . Those of the southern Tsaesci are more elaborate and decorative , with shoes and greaves that look like Imperial sandals , though armored with thick leather or small metal plates . BOWS The Akaviri use composite bows with recurved ends made of horn . Though painted with metallic lacquer , don ' t be fooled : their bows are not made of metal , nor do the Akaviri have the giant ' s - strength it would take to bend them if they were . CHEST PIECES Akaviri chest armor is worked or forged from familiar materials ( padding , leather , steel ) and usually decorated with a triangular or pyramidal shape , point toward the gorget . DAGGERS Akaviri daggers are pretty , but don ' t be fooled : they ' re made for killing , and if you get downed on the battlefield , expect to feel one of these in your armpit or groin . As with the swords , the curved ones are Tsaesci , and the straight ones are from Kamal . GLOVES Akaviri weapons usually have narrow guards , which leaves hand protection up to their gauntlets . These usually have thick armor on the back of the hand , while leaving the fingers free and open for a solid grip on weapon and shield . HELMETS The Tsaesci helmets I ' ve seen in museums , or imitated by Fighters Guild warriors , sport layered neck and side armor , and often have elaborate double crests like horns or antlers . Kamali helmets , in contrast , tend to be simpler , though they also cover the back and sides . Lots of Akaviri helmets of both kinds include visors or some other form of partial face coverage . The troops found some of these unsettling , even creepy . LEG GREAVES Akaviri greaves always look like extensions of their sandal - like boots . I could never tell where one ends and the other starts . MACES Kamali maces usually have rectangular heads , while those of the Tsaesci are round . Both kinds are studded all round with wicked spikes . They ' re going to hurt you , even if you ' re wearing heavy armor . SHIELDS Shields from Kamal tend to be metal - edged wood from the northern forests , while shields from southern Tsaesci are more likely to be curved sheets of steel . These often sport symbols echoing the crests on the warriors ' helms . SHOULDERS Unlike the triangular designs on their chest armor , Akaviri pauldrons and shoulder cops are always articulated rectangular or square plates . Why ? Who knows ? STAVES An Akaviri mage prizes his spell staff , and they are often splendid and lavishly decorated , trimmed in gold leaf and sporting great red gems . The hafts of these staves are made of a dense , flexible wood unknown in Tamriel , able to deflect even a great axe . SWORDS The Akaviri seem to love their swords almost as much as the Redguards ; their long blades are among the finest I ' ve ever seen . When you heft one of the curved Tsaesci swords , you can just feel how it could shear right through a soldier ' s limbs . And the straight blades of Kamal are no less dangerous .