Whiterun

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The Plains District of Whiterun is home to the city's shops and market, while the Wind District is mostly residential. The Jarl's palace, Dragonsreach, dominates the Cloud District.

Overview

Whiterun is a city in Whiterun Hold in the imperial province Skyrim. Whiterun lies in the heart of Skyrim, its central located position making it into an important target in the on-going civil war. Whiterun is a typical Nordic city and features a wooden and stone palisade. Whiterun has a supreme defensive advantage of being positioned on top of a mountain, right in of middle of the surrounding artic tundra. Because of Whiterun's close proximity to where the Dragonborn makes his escape from Helgen, this is probably the city the Dragonborn will first enter.

Politics and Civil war

The current jarl of Whiterun is Balgruuf the greater. Balgruuf takes his advice from the steward of Whiterun, the Imperial named Proventus Avenicci. The jarl's advisors also features a court-wizard with the name Farengar Secret-Fire, his advice only focus around the questions of the magical threats against Whiterun.

Whiterun is under threat in the on-going civil war. The Dragonborn can pick a side in this civil-war if the Dragonborn decides to join the civil war. The Dragonborn can choose to fight on the same side as Balgruuf the Greater. Balgruuf have already made his stand that Skyrim shall be a part of the Empire as previously . There is also the choice to join the Stormcloak rebellion and battle for an independent Skyrim and then there is no other possibility than to fight against Balgruuf the greater and the Empire.

Gray-Manes and Battle-Borns

There are two prominent and important families living in Whiterun, the Gray-Manes and the Battle-Borns. They used to be on good terms but much has changed. They have differing views on the on-going civil war. The difference in wealth also fuels their rivalry, with the Battle-Borns being the wealthiest.

The Companions

Whiterun also serves as a home to the Companions, a collection of warriors-for-hire that has its sanctuary in the famous mead-hall Jorrvaskr in the Wind district of the city. The Companions current Harbringer is Kodlak Whitemane, he is the one to speak about applying for membership. Inside of the The Companions a secret society exists that goes under the name The Circle, which have their meetings under the Skyforge in secret hall called the Underforge.

History

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Whiterun was built up around the mead hall Jorrvaskr, home of the legendary Companions warrior guild.

The city of Whiterun was founded when a captain from the famous Ysgramor and the Five Hundred Companions heard a rumor. This rumor was told by Snow-Elves, who talked about an ancient and special forge that they called the Skyforge. The Skyforge is ancient place and predates Jorrvaskr and even the Snow-Elves themselves. The discoverer of the Skyforge was known under the name, “Jeek of the River”. Jeek the River is also the founder of Whiterun.

Great Harbingers of the CompanionsAuthor: Swyk the Long-Sighted

Jeek of the River: Captain of the Jorrvaskr during the Return, discoverer of the Skyforge, founder of Whiterun, and keeper of the original oath of the Companions, now lost to time. While other crews sought glory in conquest, his was the first to settle and serve as protector for the less war-gifted in the land as they came behind.

Jeek of the River started to build a settlement around the Skyforge. This led to the decision to build a headquarters for the Companions and the mead-hall Jorrvaskr was built. After a while they started to build a city, and Whiterun was founded.

Volume 7, The Tale of the JorrvaskrAuthor: Anonymous

Thus began the building of the Great City, circled by the running of the White River, as brought forth by these beloved of Ysgramor, yet but twenty-two of the glorious Five Hundred Companions.

Places and People

The city of Whiterun is the home of 23 places and 76 uniquely named people. Whiterun is divided into three different districts. The three districts have all be named after there location and status, the names explains them self.

- Proventus Avenicci:

"The Plains District of Whiterun is home to the city's shops and market, while the Wind District is mostly a residential district. The Jarl's palace, Dragonsreach, dominates the Cloud District."

The Plains district

The first area a visitor enters. Merchants and inns dominate this district. Also the location of a purchasable home called Breezehome(for a price of 5000 gold). This district is the closest to the plains outside the city's walls, hence the name. It is a busy area, it house a small marketplace with a few vendors.

The Wind District

This residential district is located in the middle of the city. The temple of Kynareth is located here, and the district is named after the strong mountain winds that blow through the district. In the middle of the Wind District lies Gildergreen, a tree that the followers of Kynareth worships.

The Cloud District

The highest of the three districts. The big fortress Dragonsreach is located here and it is gigantic piece of architecture it can been seen miles away. The rear porch of Dragonsreach was originally meant to house a dragon.

Inns

Inns are places where the player can rent a room to sleep, buy food and drink, and meet people. Inns are also a good place to get some information about mercenary work. Often there is the option to hire mercenaries if you are in need of someone that can guard your back.

The Bannered Mare

The Bannered Mare serves as meeting place for many of the merchants. The current owner of the inn is Hulda.

Crafting Stations

• Cooking pot

The Drunken Huntsman

Acts as both as shop and an inn. The owner is the Wood-elf Elrindir. The shop mainly sells hunting goods.

Crafting stations

• Cooking port

Shops

Shops and merchants that buy and sell wares.

Arcadia's Cauldron

An alchemy shop in Whiterun's Plains District. An alchemy table is available for use in the shop area of the house.

Crafting stations

• Alchemy Lab
• Cooking pot

Belethor's General Goods

The local general store. Belethor sells and buys almost everything. Sigurd helps around the shop, does a bit of everything.

Crafting stations

• Cooking pot

Honningbrew Meadery

Honningbrew Meadery is a small meadery southeast of the town Whiterun. It consists of two large buildings. After completing some quests for infamous Thieves guild, there will be fence available at this location.

Crafting station

• Alchemy Lab

Warmaiden's

A weapon and armor shop run by Adrianne Avenicci and her husband Ulfberth War-Bear. The Warmaiden's is named after Adrianne Avenicci. She is the one that craft all weapons and armor, right outside the shop.

Crafting Stations

Inside the shop

• Cooking Pot

Outside the shop

• Blacksmith Forge
• Grindstone
• Smelter
• Tanning Rack
• Workbench

Other places

Other places of interest, that can be important. There are some hubs for quest and to gain some reputation within a city.

Dragonsreach

The fortress in the Cloud District in the city of Whiterun at the highest point in the city. From here, Jarl Balgruuf the greater wields his power. At the porch on the back-side of the Dragonsreach have according to legend be able to hold a dragon prisoner.

Crafting Stations

• Alchemy Lab
• Arcane Enchanter
• Cooking pot

*, Only appear if the Civil war turns into Stormcloaks favor.

Jorrvaskr

Jorrvaskr is the mead hall of The Companions and is located in the Wind District of the city of Whiterun in Skyrim. The current Harbringer of the Companions is Kodlak Whitemane. Nearby lies Skyforge a legendary forge that predates the city itself.

Skyforge

Skyforge is a ancient forge, it predates Whiterun itself. Its rumors and myths are many. All the Companions weapons and armor are crafted here. The forge is run by Eorlund Gray-Mane, considered by many to be the best blacksmith in whole of Skyrim. Under the the Skyforge it house the secret meeting place Underforge which is used by the secret society The Circle.

Crafting stations

• Blacksmith forge
• Grindstone
• Tanning rack
• Workbench

Notes

• Breezehome is available for the Dragonborn after he has progress a bit in quests for Whiterun, Breezehome costs 5000 gold. The home can be purchased from Proventus Avenicci.
• Dragons may attack Whiterun and can kill a lot of people.
• A guard may say "Did someone steal your sweetroll?" a reference to another Bethesda game Fallout 3.
• Aurora(Northern lights) may appear of Whiterun's sky at night.