What to do after Helgen?

After escaping the dragon attack on Helgen, the first town you will likely encounter is Riverwood, a village on the southern outskirts of Whiterun Hold, where you can explore the surrounding areas, complete misc and side quests, and discover caves and mines. The path you choose after Helgen depends on your character, with some opting to stay near Riverwood, others heading to Whiterun or other civilized places, and some venturing off to mine or explore caves.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

1. What is the first town after Helgen in Skyrim? The first town after Helgen is Riverwood, which has an inn, a general store, three houses, a lumber mill, and a blacksmith.
2. What do you do after finishing the main quest in Skyrim? After completing the main quest, you can discover the areas surrounding Riverwood and Whiterun/Dragonsreach, complete misc and side quests, and explore caves and mines.
3. What happens when you return to Helgen? Return to Helgen is an epic quest mod that takes you from being a prisoner in Helgen to Governor of a restored Helgen.

Character Progression

4. Can you become Jarl of Helgen? No, it is impossible to become Jarl in Skyrim without a mod, and even then, it would be boring since Jarl are not allowed to go beyond their city’s walls unless heavily guarded.
5. What happens to Ralof after Helgen? After escaping from Helgen, Ralof takes you to Riverwood, where his sister Gerdur lives, and invites you to join the Stormcloak Rebellion.
6. Does Hadvar survive if you go with Ralof? If you go with Ralof, you never see Hadvar again, but if you go with Hadvar, you never see Ralof again.

Quests and Challenges

7. What is the hardest Skyrim quest? The Ebony Warrior is Skyrim’s final challenge, and it’s difficult, requiring you to reach level 80 and encounter the Ebony Warrior inside the main cities of Skyrim.
8. What is the longest quest in Skyrim? Elder Knowledge is one of the longest main quests in Skyrim, requiring you to travel into Blackreach and retrieve the Elder Scroll.
9. What is the saddest quest in Skyrim? Mourning Never Comes is the most heart-wrenching quest in Skyrim, where killing Nilsine leads to Tova‘s suicide.

Game Completion and Rewards

10. How many endings Skyrim has? Skyrim doesn’t exactly end, with no one last hurrah, and credits roll, but some quest arcs have varied endings, such as the Civil War.
11. At what point do you beat Skyrim? You beat Skyrim after defeating Alduin, talking to Tsun, and returning to Skyrim.
12. What is the reward for killing Alduin? The reward for defeating Alduin is literally nothing, except for the experience.

Game Mechanics and Lore

13. Why is Alduin so weak? One theory is that Alduin is weak because he has given up his powers and abilities by denying his fate as the World-Eater.
14. What happens if you go with Hadvar but join the Stormcloaks? You can still join the Stormcloaks if you walk with Hadvar, but there are minor differences in the game.
15. Can you have 2 wives in Skyrim? Unfortunately, you’re only able to have 1 wife in Skyrim, even if your spouse dies or you kill her.