Solitude (Skyrim)

Solitude is the capital city of both Haafingar Hold, and the province of Skyrim. Currently ruled by Jarl Elisif the Fair, widow of the late High King Torygg, it is the headquarters of the Imperial Legion stationed in Skyrim. General Tullius commands the Imperial army from the stone-walled Castle Dour with his second-in-command, Legate Rikke, while Solitude's Jarl, Elisif, resides in the Blue Palace. The Thalmor have an embassy hidden in the nearby mountains.
Part of the reason for this is the eminently defensible nature of Solitude itself. Set upon a great stone arch that towers above the mouth of the Karth River, the city is surrounded by the soaring peaks of the nearby mountains. Solitude is both a reinforced and breathtaking stronghold. It is also protected from attack from the west by the still-largely intact Fort Hraggstad overlooking the Sea of Ghosts.
Solitude is also a major shipping port and important Imperial supply line. Solitude sits on a natural arch, giving its port much needed shelter from the strong winds of the Ghost Sea. Most of the shipping in Solitude is run by the Imperial-financed East Empire Company, who have a large storage warehouse built into the rock beneath Solitude.Loading Screens in 
==Civil War==
During 4E 201, as the Skyrim Civil War rages on, Skyrim becomes a nation divided, with three of its nine holds, The Pale, Winterhold, and The Rift, allying with Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Eastmarch Hold and Windhelm, and his Stormcloak rebels, while The Reach, Falkreath, and Hjaalmarch remain a part of the Empire, leaving Whiterun Hold neutral and middle ground between the two sides until the Battle for Whiterun to decide its allegiance, and Solitude serves as the center of Imperial power in Skyrim. Much of Solitude's coffers and supplies have been diminished and its security is becoming increasingly vulnerable with many of its Hold Guards conscripted to serve in the Legion's army, leaving very few to patrol the settlements within Haafingar Hold to keep them safe from threats. Jarl Elisif considers these sacrifices necessary in order to quell the rebellion and defeat Ulfric and is resigned in her belief that General Tullius will do what is best since they are so dependent on him.Dialogue with Elisif the Fair in 
==Geography==
Solitude is located on the eastern coast of a peninsula in Haafingar, in the far northwest of Skyrim. The city is built on a cape on the mouth of the Karth River and has a port on the river itself. A large percent of Haafingar's population lives within Solitude's walls. It is also one of the northernmost cities on the mainland of Tamriel, second only to Dawnstar.
==Bards College==
Founded during Skyrim's long Alessian flirtation, the Bards College continues to flaunt a heretical streak, and its students are famous carousers, fittingly enough given their chosen trade. Students yearly invade the marketplace for a week of revelry, the climax of which is the famous burning of "King Olaf" in effigy, possibly a now-forgotten contender in the War of Succession. Graduates have no trouble finding employment in noble households across Tamriel, including the restored Imperial Court in Cyrodiil, but many still choose to follow in the wandering footsteps of illustrious alumni such as Callisos and Morachellis. Students may apply at any time, but should have a good knowledge of Speech.
==Points of interest==
===Inns===
*The Winking Skeever
===Shops===
*Radiant Raiment
*Angeline's Aromatics
*Bits and Pieces
*Fletcher
*Solitude Blacksmith
===Houses===
*Addvar's House
*Bryling's House
*Erikur's House
*Evette San's House
*Jala's House
*Proudspire Manor (for sale)
*Vittoria Vici's House
===Jarl's residence===
*Blue Palace
===Other===
*Bards College
*Castle Dour
*East Empire Company Warehouse
*Hall of the Dead
*Katla's Farm
*Solitude Sawmill
*Solitude Stables
*Temple of the Divines
*Thalmor Headquarters
==Purchasable property==
Proudspire Manor, Solitude's only available home, costs 25,000 . The Dragonborn can buy it from Falk Firebeard after becoming a Thane of Haafingar. When the Dragonborn has purchased Proudspire Manor, Jordis the Sword-Maiden, the Dragonborn's personal housecarl, stays there.
==Characters==
===Blue Palace===
Elisif the Fair
Falk Firebeard
Sybille Stentor
Bolgeir Bearclaw
Bryling
Erikur
Erdi
Odar
Una
===Merchants===
Sayma
Beirand
Fihada
Endarie
Angeline Morrard
Corpulus Vinius
Sybille Stentor
Addvar
Jala
Evette San
===Followers===
Jordis the Sword-Maiden
Belrand
Ahtar
===Castle Dour===
General Tullius
Legate Rikke
Captain Aldis
Ahtar
Gianna
Legate Adventus Caesennius
===Bards College===
Aia Arria
Ataf
Bendt
Giraud Gemane
Illdi
Inge Six Fingers
Jorn
Pantea Ateia
Viarmo
===Priests===
Rorlund
Styrr
Silana Petreia
Freir
===Others===
Vittoria Vici
Aquillius Aeresius
Gisli
Greta
Gulum-Ei
Heimvar
Irnskar Ironhand
Jaree-Ra
Jawanan
Lodi
Kayd
Melaran
Minette Vinius
Noster Eagle-Eye
Octieve San
Roggvir
Svari
Sorex Vinius
Vivienne Onis
Dervenin
Varnius Junius
==Quests==
*Battle for Solitude: The final quest in the Liberation of Skyrim quest line.
*Lights Out!: Extinguish the light in the Solitude Lighthouse for Jaree-Ra.
*The Jagged Crown: Retrieve the The Jagged Crown for the Empire or the Stormcloaks.
*The Man Who Cried Wolf: Check Wolfskull Cave for Falk Firebeard.
*The Mind of Madness: Enter the Pelagius Wing of the Blue Palace for Dervenin.
**This quest does not count toward the miscellaneous quest assist the people of Haafingar.
*The Wolf Queen Awakened: Kill Potema Septim. Given by Falk Firebeard via courier.
*Fit for a Jarl: Model some clothes for the Jarl. Given by Taarie by speaking to her.
===Miscellaneous quests===
*Ask Captain Aldis for information about Angeline's daughter. Given by Angeline Morrard in Angeline's Aromatics.
*Deliver the Stros M'Kai Rum to Falk Firebeard: deliver rum to Falk Firebeard from Sorex Vinius, who can either be found in The Winking Skeever or walking around town.
*Find Noster's Helmet in a radiant location: given by Noster Eagle-Eye, who can be found outside Radiant Raiment.
*Kill the leader of Broken Oar Grotto: given by Ahtar, who can be found in Jala's house at night.
**This quest does not count toward the miscellaneous quest assist the people of Haafingar.
*Kill the leader of Pinemoon Cave: given by Sybille Stentor in the Blue Palace.
*Take Torygg's War Horn to the Shrine of Talos in the White River Valley: given by Jarl Elisif the Fair.
*Talk to the innkeeper about letting Belrand off his debts.
*Talk to Irnskar about Octieve's debts.
==Achievements==
==Gallery==
Solitude Concept Arts.jpg|Concept art.
Solitude.jpg|Concept art.
Solitude Landscape.jpg|Concept art.
TESV Concept Solitude.jpg|Concept art.
Solitude.png|Isometric view.
Solitude Birdsview Skyrim.jpg|Bird's-eye view.
SolitudeWilderness.png|View from Hjaalmarch.
Solitude Marsh.jpg|View from Hjaalmarch.
Solitude - Water Arch (Skyrim).png|Side view of the arch from the docks.
Solitude 1.png|Stables.
Solitude SceneExecution.png|Roggvir's Execution.
Solitude - Main Street (Skyrim).png|Main streets.
TESV City Solitude Panorama.png|Panorama of the main street.
Solitude - Blue Palace (Skyrim).png|The Blue Palace.
Solitude mdc02.jpg|Path to the Blue Palace.
Solitude Hall of the Dead.jpg|Solitude, Hall of the Dead
==Trivia==
*Solitude was originally designed as the seat of the Imperials in the province of Skyrim. As a result, the architecture was created to reflect the Imperial style from past Elder Scrolls games. The idea of building it on a land bridge came in early on production.
*Guards can go into the sewers through the manholes.
*An unlimited number of steel arrows may be taken from the soldiers training by the Temple of the Divines (they shoot the targets repeatedly). Alternatively, the Dragonborn may pickpocket the guards when they are sleeping, take their steel arrows, and replace them with any kind of arrow of which duplicates are desired.
*There are six healing potions (three standard, two plentiful, and one minor) that can be found at certain points around the city. All of the aforementioned potions can be taken freely, and they all respawn every 10 in-game days.
*There are hawks circling the sky above Solitude which can be killed for their beaks and feathers, both of which are alchemical ingredients that can be used to brew potions.
*With installed, a man named Jolf will appear at the end of the Solitude Docks and will take the Dragonborn in his boat to Castle Volkihar, Windhelm, or Dawnstar.
*Getting arrested while in Haafingar and sent to Castle Dour Dungeon is an easy way to gain the achievement "Wanted" as there is an easy escape route; the wall at the back of the cell is crumbling. There is another hole in the wall slightly further along with access to the prisoner's belongings chest.
*It is possible to access the Castle Dour Dungeon by slipping underneath Solitude.
*If the Battle for Solitude is completed before ever entering the city, Stormcloak Guards will say that it is a shame that Roggvir was executed before they captured the city.Quotes from Stormcloak Soldiers after "Battle for Solitude" in 
==Bugs==
Show: Bugs
* Solitude may not appear. If Solitude fails to load, reinstall the game.
**Solution: Delete the data and run the game again; everything should reinstall properly. This will not delete or ruin any saves.
*The Thalmor Headquarters in the keep area does not contain any Thalmor, despite there clearly being intention for it to do so. This is likely related to the inability to perform the diplomatic solution for Missing in Action.
* Many of the people do not appear when Solitude is first entered. Fixed by leaving and re-entering.
* If the Dragonborn commits a crime and then drinks an invisibility potion, and then chooses the option to pay off their bounty, it is possible to end up glitched under the map.
* Occasionally characters may be seen walking or standing on an invisible platform overhead in the air. Leaving and coming back later seems to fix this.
*Guards in Solitude may not respawn unless killed, allowing for naked, unarmed guards roving about (if their items are taken via the Perfect Touch perk) every time Solitude is visited.
* When fast traveling to Solitude, specifically to the Blue Palace, a dragon body may appear right near the door of the palace. This also can be seen when walking to Castle Dour and after exiting it.
*After becoming a Thane of Haafingar, the option to use the rank to get the guards to get rid of a bounty may not appear (even though it is less than the limit).
*After completing the Battle for Solitude, the icon representing Solitude on the map may disappear, making fast travel impossible. The Blue Palace still shows up, however.
* After being imprisoned in Solitude, the Dragonborn may spawn underneath the ground. To fix this fast travel to somewhere else.
*It is possible for a dragon to attack inside of Solitude, even during the Battle for Solitude.
* A bit west of Proudspire Manor there is a pillar with a faulty mesh. Part of the pillar may be looked through to view beneath Solitude.
* Dragon Skeletons have a hard time de-spawning in Solitude, so they may grow in number over long periods of time. This may be fixed by shooting the skeletons with a reanimation spell pushing them towards the main entrance or outside the map.
==Appearances==
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==References==
cs:Solitude
de:Einsamkeit (Skyrim)
es:Soledad (Skyrim)
fi:Solitude
fr:Solitude (Skyrim)
it:Solitude
ja:Solitude (Skyrim)
pl:Samotnia (Skyrim)
pt:Solitude (Skyrim)
ru:Солитьюд (Skyrim)
sv:Solitude (Skyrim)
uk:Соліт'юд (Skyrim)
Category:Capital Cities
Category:Skyrim: Haafingar Hold Locations