((Still alive and working on this! I just really needed some references for some upcoming bits because when I say that it's, artistically, kind of a stretch for my abilities, BOY do I mean it! Anyways, here's some (mostly) unrelated but worthwhile screenshots of Skyrim that I got while wandering!))
((Warning; Yapping ahead.))
Path I travelled Riften > Whiterun; as you can see, this is what it looks like coming FROM the road to Ivarstead, including the waterfall to the east of the Valthiem Towers and right next to Darkshade.
I actually recently learned that apparently, people I've spoken to most commonly take the path through Riverwood, going through Falkreath & less of the Rift than you would going down the Ivarstead path. I'm not judging such decision making skills- it is the optimal route, in terms of speed- I'm just confused how one would make that particular decision is all.
All road signs I've ever seen have always pointed down (what I like to call) the Valthiem road, not the (incorrectly, but due to my pathing & writing for this series, it's stuck in my mind- plus Falkreath has SO MUCH GOING ON, it's hard to attribute any one thing to that road. Save for maybe Helgen. Which. Seems in poor taste.) the Fort Neugrad path.
I can find little- to no- information on what this waterfall is actually named in canon, so if I may be so bold as to contribute such a thing, how about 'Valthfors'?
Valth, of course after 'Valthiem', which is essentially 'home of the valorant', but it would take the 'iem' away, using Thurisaz & not Tiwaz because 'th', (at least in my personal esoteric worship) roughly indicates familiarizing yourself with your weaknesses and strengths in your surroundings... Which is MARKEDLY relevant here. The Valthiem towers have many of both, given the mildly stretegic positioning. Perfect for aerial threats, actually. Admittedly, not so great for ground forces. This would represent that duality well.
'Fors' is simply the old norse word for 'waterfall', and though Whiterun is well-travelled, it seems that some corners- like Valthiem itself- are still named accordingly. Normally I would hesitate to do such a thing or make such a call, however, I do adore the concept of implying that, should they lose the battle of the duality of the above, they will fall.
(The implication that the bandits that ALWAYS call the towers home are incapable of witnessing the weaknesses of their defense system- because lets be honest, the bandit chief being on the side of the mountain OPPOSITE to where the person on the ground needs support is suspect as hell. And why is anyone on that bridge, archer or not? The bandits that make the towers home have a questionable security, let's just say, and I have a 5 step program for making it BETTER- but... later.)
That became a rant about the Valthiem Towers. Moving on;
There is also a marked path up the mountain to, if memory serves, Hillgrund's Tomb, where you aquire a follower; Golldir. Heavy recommendation to go through it, if you haven't yet. Recently learned that the more common path is through Riverwood, which takes you on an equally interesting journey, but it means on your first playthroughs you're likely to miss this little sidequest. :)
Ending it off with a nice image.
In case anyone was reading this, I'm 100% down to retrieve more screenies and talk about more of the little things I've noticed in Skyrim, which may just lead into comic fun facts honestly, because between me and the main writer, we've touched this map a lot.
Turns out, writing a little travelling story means you look at the things surrounding what your characters are traveling by! :D I got the weirdest sense of Deja Vu writing this, and then briefly sent to an alternate reality where I never posted it.
(Fuck that, I'm posting it. (Obviously.))
