King Hahdrim
This mod was officially featured on Bethesda’s community channels on January 2021.
Summary
A tomb uncovered. A curse sealed away. The legend of “The Tragedy of King Hahdrim” is a cautionary tale about greed, betrayal, and looking for answers in the wrong places. The story of the king and his family is central to my mod, Yellow King, and by reading the legend, the player gets an understanding of the history of the tomb’s occupants and the consequences of the Nord king’s actions. The curse also provides a gameplay mechanic of the tomb later on.
Below is the entirety of the legend as it appears in Skyrim. The book is interlinear with the legend written in three different styles: an English translation, a transliteration of the legend from the dragon language into the Latin alphabet, and then the ancient version but using Skyrim’s dragon alphabet font. The language and writing system of dragons was used by early Nords and helps date the legend to long ago.
Here these words before you fall into and suffer from a similar curse.
Hon daar sikke us hi mah kotin ahrk aus nol aan med dur
HON DÄR SIKKE US HI MÃ KOTIN ÃRK AUS NOL ÄN MED DÙ
Once in these holy steadings did live a man, King Hahdrim Serpent-Path, his wife, Queen Brit Summer-Eyes, and the sons of them, Princes Fenglod and Brimglod.
Ont ko daar revak hofkahhe drey lahney aan mun Jun Hahdrim Vith-Miiraad kiimii Jud Brit Koor-Miinne ahrk fin kulle do niin Kulaanne Fenglod ahrk Brimglod
ONT KO DÄR REVAK HOFKÃHE DRË LÃNË ÄN MUN JUN HÃDRIM VITH MÏRÄD KÏMÏ JUD BRIT KÖRMÏNNE ÃRK FIN KULLE DO NÏN KULÄNNE FENGLOD ÃRK BRIMGLOD
In the service of King Hahdrim was his sorceror, Shuldenek, who did serve the humble king with magic that did bring good blessings for many seasons.
Ko fin ahmik do Jun Hahdrim lost ok kro Shuldenek wo drey aam fin bonaar jun voth lah tol drey drun pruzah kogaanne fah pogaan evgirre
KO FIN ÃMIK DO JUN HÃDRIM LOST OK KRO SHULDENEK WO DRË ÄM FIN BONÄR JUN VOTH LÃ TOL DRË DRUN PRUZÃ KOGÄNNE FÃ POGÄN EVGÎRE
When all of the king’s family and friends were full with the food of land animals and ocean animals, of land beasts and sea beasts, they did rest.
Fod pah do fin jun brod ahrk fahdonne lost vonil voth fin kip do pindaar raanne ahrk okaaz raanne do pindaar sivaasse ahrk okaaz sivaasse nust drey praan
FOD PÃ DO FIN JUN BROD ÃRK FÃDONNE LOST VONIL VOTH FIN KIP DO PINDÄR RÄNNE ÃRK OKÄZ RÄNNE DO PINDÄR SIVÄSSE ÃRK OKÄZ SIVÄSSE NUST DRË PRÄN
In those days, a river of gold was found within the mountainside by the king’s family and they did attack the flesh of the earth with hammers.
Ko daar sulle aan rathseyuvon lost siivaan kosil fin strunmah naal faal jun brod ahrk nust drey nos fin slensegol voth tuue
KO DÄR SULLE ÄN RATHSEYUVON LOST SÏVÄN KOSIL FIN STRUNMÃ NÄL FÄL JUN BROD ÃRK NUST DRË NOS FIN SLENSEGOL VOTH TÜE
This gold was not given to them by the gods nor earned by glorious battles but gained by the slaughter of stones so that the land did scar.
Daar yuvon lost ni ofan wah niin naal faal rahhe uv ofaalaan wah morokei grahhe nuz siivaan wah fin kriivahsegolzze ful tol fin pindaar drey ahraan
DÄR YUVON LOST NI OFAN WÃ NÏN NÄL FÄL RAHHE UV OFÄLÄN WÃ MOROKÈ GRÃHE NUZ SÏVÄN WÃ FIN KRÏVÃSEGOLZZE FUL TOL FIN PINDÄR DRË ÃRÄN
With his stolen gold, King Hahdrim did forget the land and the sea and all of the deeds that Shuldenek did do for him, his wife, and his sons.
Voth gahrot yuvonii Jun Hahdrim drey vodahmaan fin pindaar ahrk fin okaaz ahrk pah do aan sodde tol Shuldenek drey dreh fah rok kiimii ahrk ok kulle
VOTH GÃROT YUVONÏ JUN HÃDRIM DRË VODÃMÄN FIN PINDÄR ÃRK FIN OKÄZ ÃRK PÃ DO ÄN SODDE TOL SHULDENEK DRË DRÃ FÃ ROK KÏMÏ ÃRK OK KULLE
He did keep the gold for himself and as time did pass and the seasons did march over Tamriel, the land and seas that King Hahdrim did rule was drained and dying.
Rok drey dein fin yuvon fah rok ahrk ol tiid drey vod ahrk fin evgirre drey yoriik ko Taazokaan fin gol ahrk fin okaazze tol Jun Hahdrim drey rel lost lun ahrk viir
ROK DRË DÈN FIN YUVON FÃ ROK ÃRK OL TÏD DRË VOD ÃRK FIN EVGÎRE DRË YORÏK KO TÄZOKÄN FIN GOL ÃRK FIN OKÄZZE TOL JUN HÃDRIM DRË REL LOST LUN ÃRK VÏR
My lord, Shuldenek did say to King Hahdrim, the land and the seas are befouled by your sickness and the storehouses are filled with gold and not fulfilling food.
Drogi Shuldenek drey tinvaak wah Jun Hahdrim fin gol ahrk fin okaazze los bein naal hin krasaar ahrk fin deinhofkahhe los bo voth yuvon ahrk ni brit kip
DROGI SHULDENEK DRË TINVÄK WÃ JUN HÃDRIM FIN GOL ÃRK FIN OKÄZZE LOS BÈN NÄL HIN KRASÄR ÃRK FIN DÈNHOFKÃHE LOS BO VOTH YUVON ÃRK NI BRIT KIP
Silence, the king did say to the sorceror, are the many gifts that come from within the earth and the many gifts that come from above it opponents, for I see that they are not adversaries?
Nahlot faal jun drey tinvaak wah fin kro los fin pogaan ofanne tol bo nol ko fin gol ahrk fin pogaan ofanne tol bo nol su nii hokoronne fah zu'u koraav tol nust los ni paalle
NÃLOT FÄL JUN DRË TINVÄK WÃ FIN KRO LOS FIN POGÄN OFANNE TOL BO NOL KO FIN GOL ÃRK FIN POGÄN OFANNE TOL BO NOL SU NÏ HOKORONNE FÃ ZÜ KORÄV TOL NUST LOS NI PÄLLE
If one place of the balance is heavy with gold, is that not fortune, and was it not you who brought them to us, the king did say, but he or his wife or his sons did not listen to the sorceror’s words.
Ful gein goltsero los hevno voth yuvon los daar ni faraan ahrk lost nii ni hi wo drun niin us mu faal jun drey tinvaak nuz rok uv kiimii uv ok kulle drey ni hon wah fin kro rotte
FUL GÈN GOLTSERO LOS HEVNO VOTH YUVON LOS DÄR NI FARÄN ÃRK LOS NÏ NI HI WO DRUN NÏN US MU FÄL JUN DRË TINVÄK NUZ ROK UV KÏMÏ UV OK KULLE DRË NI HON WÃ FIN KRO ROTTE
The sorceror did flee from the sight of the king for the sorceror was filled with the anger over the king’s betrayal of the land, so Shuldenek did search for a sign to end the disobedience of the king.
Fin kro drey bovul nol fin koraavsejun fah fin kro lost bo voth fin rahgron ko faal jun gruth do fin golt ful Shuldenek drey tovit fah aan qolaas wah oblaan fin vothaarnsejun
FIN KRO DRË BOVUL NOL FIN KORÄVSEJUN FÃ FIN KRO LOS BO VOTH FIN RÃGRON KO FÄL JUN GRUTH DO FIN GOLT FUL SHULDENEK DRË TOVIT FÃ ÄN QOLÄS WÃ OBLÄN FIN VOTHÄRNSEJUN
One day, Shuldenek did travel to see the Guardian who protected Skyrim from treachery of the past and spoke to him of King Hahdrim.
Gein sul Shuldenek drey wundun wah koraav faal Vahlok wo spaanaan Keizaal nol tahrovinsevod ahrk tinvaakaan wah rok do Jun Hahdrim
GÈN SUL SHULDENEK DRË WUNDUN WÃ KORÄV FÄL VÃLOK WO SPÄNÄN KÈZÄL NOL TÃROVINSEROD ÃRK TINVÄKÄN WÃ ROK DO JUN HÃDRIM
But the Guardian did not know of any action that did have the strength to bring an end to the king’s sickness, so Shuldenek, defeated, did travel all over Skyrim for knowledge.
Nuz faal Vahlok drey ni mindok do naan dreh tol drey piraak fin mulaag wah drun aan laat wah faal jun krasaar ful Shuldenek viikaan drey tovit pah ko Keizaal fah mindoraan
NUZ FÄL VÃLOK DRË NI MINDOK DO NÄN DREH TOL DRË PÎÄK FIN MULÄG WÃ DRUN ÄN LÄT WÃ FÄL JUN KRASÄR FUL SHULDENEK VÏKÄN DRË TOVIT PÃ KO KÈZÄL FÃ MINDORÄN
The sorceror did join with many dragon priests and wise men, but he found nothing until he did go north and east and across the sea and met —, a man who knew unknowable truths.
Fin kro drey aav voth pogaan sonaakke ahrk onik muz nuz rok siivaan nid erei rok drey bo brom ahrk jer ahrk zeim fin okaaz ahrk grindaan — aan mul wo mindokaan vomindok vahzenne
FIN KRO DRË ÄV VOTH POGÄN SONÄKKE ÃRK ONIK MUZ NUZ ROK SÏVÄN NID ERÈ ROK DRË BO BROM ÃRK JER ÃRK ZÈM FIN OKÄZ ÃRK GRINDÄN ÄN MUL WO MINDOKÄN VOMINDOK VÃZENNE
It is as you say, — did say to Shuldenek, it is a sickness, but it is a dragon sickness, and only I know the action to bring peace, but the power is not of this world.
Nii los ol hi tinvaak — drey tinvaak wah Shuldenek nii los aan krasaar nuz nii los aan krasaarsedovah ahrk nunon zu’u mindok fin dreh wah drun drem nuz fin suleyk los nii do daar lein
NÏ LOS OL HI TINVÄK DRË TINVÄK WÃ SHULDENEK NÏ LOS ÄN KRASÄR NUZ NÏ LOS ÄN KRASÄRSEDOVÃ ÃRK NUNON ZÜ MINDOK FIN DREH WÃ DRUN DREM NUZ FIN SULËK LOS NÏ DO DÄR LÈN
King Hahdrim desires gold, so gold he shall have, — did say, and the king shall flow with knowledge and think of gold all of his days until the sickness becomes sick itself and is removed.
Jun Hadrim paar yuvon ful yuvon rok fent piraak — drey tinvaak ahrk faal jun fent bo voth mindoraan ahrk morah do yuvon pah do ok sulle erei fin krasaar meyz bein nimaar ahrk los goveyaan
JUN HÃDRIM PÄR YUVON FUL YUVON ROK FENT PÎÄK DRË TINVÄK ÃRK FÄL JUN FENT BO VOTH MINDORÄN ÃRK MORÃ DO YUVON PÃ DO OK SULLE ERÈ FIN KRASÄR MËZ BÈN NIMÄR ÃRK LOS GOVËÄN
So Shuldenek did return to the steadings of King Hahdrim with —’s gifts, garments of gold and a crown of gold, and he built far within the ground according to the guidance of — a sign.
Ful Shuldenek drey daal wah fin hofkahhe do Jun Hahdrim voth — ofanne ahtiidseyuvon ahrk aan du’ulseyuvon ahrk rok wahlaan gut kosil fin golt naal fin aak do — aan qolaas
FUL SHULDENEK DRË DÄL WÃ FIN HOFKAHHE DO JUN HÃDRIM VOTH OFANNE ÃTÏDSËUVON ÃRK ÄN DÜLSËUVON ÃRK ROK WÃLÄN GUT KOSIL FIN GOLT NÄL FIN ÄK DO ÄN QOLÄS
When all was made and raised, Shuldenek did gather King Hahdrim, his wife, and his sons to give the king the gifts of gold garments and a gold crown.
Rul pah lost meyz ahrk wahlaan Shuldenek drey lahvraan Jun Hahdrim kiimii ahrk ok kulle wah ofan faal jun fin ofanne do yuvon ahtiid ahrk aan yuvon du’ul
RUL PÃ LOST MË ÃRK WÃLÄN SHULDENEK DRË LÃVRÄN KÏMÏ ÃRK OK KULLE WÃ OFAN FÄL JUN FIN OFANNE DO YUVON ÃTÏD ÃRK ÄN YUVON DÜL
When the whole family came together, the king did bear the gifts and powerful magics attacked the king as — did predict.
Rul fin win brod lost grind faal jun drey kiin fin ofanne ahrk suleykaar lahhe nosaan faal jun ol — drey prodah
RUL FIN WIN BROD LOST GRIND FÄL JUN DRË KÏN FIN OFANNE ÃRK SULËKÄR LAHHE LOSÄN FÄL JUN OL DRË PRODÃ
I curse you, the sorceror did say, with these garments and crown because you did forget the sanctity of the earth and all of its living creatures, and because of your unending desire for gold, only gold shall be your kingdom.
Zu’u dur hi fin kro drey tinvaak voth daar ahtiid ahrk du’ul fah hi drey vodahmaan fin revaksegolt ahrk enook do ek nahl sivaasse ahrk fah do unslaad paarii fah yuvon nunon yuvon fent kos junaarii
ZÜ DÙ HI FIN KRO DRË TINVÄK VOTH DÄR ÃTÏD ÃRK DÜL FÃ HI DRË VODÃMÄN FIN REVAKSEGOLT ÃRK ENÖK DO EK NÃL SIVÄSSE ÃRK FÃ DO UNSLÄD PÄRÏ FÃ YUVON NUNON YUVON FENT KOS JUNÄRÏ
My Shuldenek, the king did say in pain, I curse you, you who betray us with the poison of Daedra, you who did give us good gifts many times in the past.
Dii Shuldenek faal jun drey tinvaak ko faaz zu’u dur hi hi wo gruth mu voth fin viidostdeyra hi wo drey ofan mu pruzah ofanne tiid ko fin vod
DÏ SHULDENEK FÄL JUN DRË TINVÄK KO FÄZ ZÜ DÙ HI HI WO GRUTH MU VOTH FIN VÏDOSTDËRA HI WO DRË OFAN MU PRUZÃ OFANNE TÏD KO FIN VOD
Your words I comprehend as nothing, my king, for the cries of the earth are all that I hear, but now they shall fade, and your mind shall darken at the sight of gold.
Hin rokke zu’u mindoraan ol nid juni fah fin zannesegolt los pah tol zu’u hon nuz nu nust fent feim ahrk hahiil fent vul ahst fin koraav do yuvon
HIN ROKKE ZÜ MINDORÄN OL NI JUNI FÃ FIN ZANNESEGOLT LOS PÃ TOL ZÜ HON NUZ NU NUST FENT FÈM ÃRK HÃÏL FENT VUL ÃST FIN KORÄV DO YUVON
I am Queen Brit Summer-Eyes, did say the wife of the king, and I curse you, Shuldenek, you who attacks the riches of a mother who shall leave them to her sons, and you who praises the ground you wander upon over the warmth of loyalty.
Zu’u los Jud Brit Koor-Miinne drey tinvaak fin kiimsejun ahrk zu’u dur hi Shuldenek hi wo nos fin faraannesemorah wo fent nahkip niin wah ek kulle ahrk hi wo werid fin golt hi rovaan nau ko fin faadsemidun
ZÜ LOS JUD BRIT KÖR MÏNE DRË TINVÄK FIN KÏMSEJUN ÃRK ZÜ DÙ HI SHULDENEK HI WO NOS FIN FARÄNNESEMORÃ WO FENT NÃKIP NÏN WÃ EK KULLE ÃRK HI WO WERID FIN GOLT HI ROVÄN NAU KO FIN FÄDSEMIDUN
I am Prince Fenglod Hahdrimson, son of King Hahdrim Serpent-Path, and I curse you, you who dishonored my father.
Zu’u los Kulaan Fenglod Hahdrimson kul do Jun Hahdrim Vith-Miiraad ahrk zu’u dur hi hi wo dukaanaan bormahi
ZÜ LOS KULÄN FENGLOD HÃDRIMSON KUL DO JUN HÃDRIM VITH MÏRÄD ÃRK ZÜ DÙ HI HI WO DUKÄNÄN BORMÃI
I am Prince Brimglod Hahdrimson, son of King Hahdrim Serpent-Path, and I curse you, you who dishonored my mother.
Zu’u los Kulaan Brimglod Hahdrimson kul do Jun Hahdrim Vith-Miiraad ahrk zu’u dur hi hi wo dukaanaan morahi
ZÜ LOS KULÄN BRIMGLOD HÃDRIMSON KUL DO JUN HÃDRIM VITH MÏRÄD ÃRK ZÜ DÙ HI HI WO DUKÄNÄN MORÃI
All of King Hahdrim’s family did curse Shuldenek and all of King Hahdrim’s family was cursed by the magic of —.
Pah do Jun Hahdrim brod drey dur Shuldenek ahrk pah do Jun Hahdrim brod lost dur naal fin lah do —
PÃ DO JUN HÃDRIM BROD DRË DÙ SHULDENEK ÃRK PÃ DO JUN HÃDRIM BROD LOST DÙ NÄL FIN LÃ DO
When the Guardian had heard about Shuldenek and the aid he received from —, he did travel to the steading of King Hahdrim and carved magics upon the entrance to bind the door so that it cannot be opened for any to escape or enter even into this day and age.
Rul faal Vahlok lost hon do Shuldenek ahrk fin aak hi ofaalaan nol — hi drey wundun wah fin hofkah do Jun Hahdrim ahrk dwiirokaan lahhe nau fin miiraad wah vostaadnau fin miiraad ful tol nii nis kos bex fah naan wah filok uv bo ko ofin kotin daar sul ahrk vod
RUL FÄL VÃLOK LOST HON DO SHULDENEK ÃRK FIN ÄK HI OFÄLÄN NOL HI DRË WUNDUN WÃ FIN HOFKÃ DO JUN HÃDRIM ÃRK DWÏROKÄN LÃHE NAU FIN MÏRÄD WÃ VOSTÄDNAU FIN MÏRÄD FUL TOL NÏ NIS KOS BEX FÃ NÄN WÃ FILOK UV BO KO OFIN KOTIN DÄR SUL ÃRK VOD
This is the end of the tale of King Hahdrim Serpent-Path who did become known in death as Gold-Tooth.
Daar los fin laatsetey do Jun Hahdrim Vith-Miiraad wo drey meyz mindok ko dinok ol Yuvon-Jotqoth
DÄR LOS FIN LÄTSETË DO JUN HÃDRIM VITH MÏRÄD WO DRË MËZ MINDOK KO DINOK OL YUVON JOTQOTH
Bethesda’s dragon language has many idiosyncracies. For example, the diphtongs ⟨aa⟩, ⟨ah⟩, ⟨ei⟩, ⟨ey⟩, ⟨ii⟩, ⟨ir⟩, ⟨oo⟩, ⟨u’u⟩, and ⟨ur⟩ are their own letters. Syntactically, possession can be shown in three different ways: by making a compound noun, adding the -se suffix and then appending the noun with its possessor, or by the preposition do. There are also two different definite articles: faal and fin. For this story, I used faal as the personal definite article and fin as the non-personal definite article.
Part of the mystery of the legend is the identity of the person labeled as —. The name has been stripped away from all copies of the legend. A player well-versed in Skyrim’s lore would immediately know the person in question is Miraak.
At the entrance of the Hahdrim tomb is a word wall carved into the mountainside. Figure 1-1 shows the text of the warning that the Guardian placed upon the tomb. Below is the English translation as well as the transliteration and dragon alphabet versions. Because the letters are written in stone, the texture is gray and weathered.
I who is known as the Guardian
Erect in this place a
Stone as a warning to safeguard the
Opening so that none may enter
Zu’u wo los mindok ol faal Vahlok
Wahl ko daar golt aan
Golz ol aan prodah wah dein fin
Miiraad ful tol nid aal bex
ZÜ WO LOS MINDOK OL FÄL VÃLOK
WÃL KO DÄR GOLT ÄN
GOLZ OL ÄN PRODÃ WÃ DÈN FIN
MÏRÄD FUL TOL NID ÄL BEX
When the player gets whisked away into a cursed world, draugr horrors lay melted around the walls and floor of the tomb. Their eyes glow yellow and when stepping into their gaze, anything that is gold that the player holds is stolen away. Greed is the theme of the story, so greed manifests itself as a trap that steals from the player. If the player runs out of gold, health is drained instead. Scattered throughout the tomb are gold coins and bullion to help the player survive. Without greed, the player is nothing.
Once the player ventures deep into the tomb, a second word wall is discovered. This one is covered in gold, and upon it is written another dragon language inscription. The text of figure 1-2 is translated below. The letters shine in the dim fire light.
Woe
Woe to you who is crowned
With the crown of
The king in yellow
So
So wah hi wo du’ulaan
Voth fin du’ul do
Faal jun ko yuvon
SO
SO WÃ HI WO DÜLÄN
VOTH FIN DÜL DO
FÄL JUN KO YUVON
Once King Hahdrim and Shuldenek are defeated, the curse is lifted and the once terrifying environment disappears, revealing only an empty tomb except for a solitary gold chest containing all of the items that were stolen from the player.
Design
Research Bethesda Game Studio’s dragon language and implement it into the levels.
Use the Green Cave and Nordic Ruins kits to make the cave and the tomb.
Place lights sparingly and use thematically appropriate colors to keep the level dusty and dark.
Create custom ambient cell lighting and distance fog.
Set the cave’s and ruin’s music to the Dungeon preset and the acoustic space to the Stone preset.
Add appropriate clutter to give off the impression of a lived area.
Place animated objects like flames, drips, and flowing water with corresponding sound effects.
Retexture and resize NetImmerse model files to create unique and original pieces.
Story
Write all books and supplemental material that flesh out the mod.
Edit Draugr AI packages so that they interact with the environment.
Encounters
Create navmesh, designate preferred AI paths, and link teleport markers from the previous cells.
Stat the final bosses and give them unique spells and abilities.
Adjust the AI behavior of the bosses so that they attacks on sight, have a large aggro radius, and will never flee.
Scripts
Create original scripts that run throughout the levels and progress to the final confrontation.
Reuse on-enter triggers from Skyrim such as changing acoustic space and applying ambient noise, adding first- and third-person camera effects, and playing audio cues.
Playtests
Look for spiderwebbing or seams into the void and remedy them.
Fix any Z-fighting by adjusting positions of static objects and sub-kits.
Install and test on computers with different hardware to check consistency.
Receive and integrate feedback from players knowledgeable in the RPG genre.