What To Do With Dead Bodies In Skyrim: A Necromantic’s Guide to Disposal and Decoration

So, you’ve just slain another dragon, vanquished a bandit camp, or perhaps had a… disagreement… with a local shopkeeper. Now you’re left with the lingering question: What do you do with all these dead bodies in Skyrim? Fear not, aspiring Dragonborn, for this comprehensive guide will illuminate the many options available for disposing of, preserving, or even repurposing the dearly departed in the harsh, unforgiving, yet endlessly fascinating world of Tamriel. There are varied options, from simple despawning to morbid decoration, and it all comes down to your role-playing preference and tolerance for lingering cadavers.

The Spectrum of Corpse Management

The options for dealing with corpses in Skyrim range from utterly practical to disturbingly creative. Let’s break them down:

• Ignore Them (and Let Nature Take Its Course): The simplest, and often most effective, method. Most corpses in Skyrim will despawn after a few in-game days (approximately 24 in-game hours away from the cell, according to Patch 1.3). So, wander off on your next adventure, and the world will tidy itself up behind you. However, this is not a guaranteed solution as some NPC corpses will not despawn.

• The “Disable” Command (PC Only): For PC players, the console commands offer a powerful way to manage the landscape. By opening the console (usually with the ~ key), clicking on the offending corpse, and typing disable followed by markfordelete, you can effectively erase it from existence. Use with caution, as this can have unintended consequences if applied to essential NPCs.

• Strategic Dumps: Embrace your inner garbage collector. Bodies dumped into the White River or Darkwater River will eventually float their way to the Sea of Ghosts, conveniently located near the border with Morrowind. Think of it as Skyrim’s version of flushing.

• Necromantic Re-Employment: Why let a perfectly good corpse go to waste? With the right spells (like Raise Zombie, Dead Thrall, or Dread Zombie) you can reanimate the fallen and put them to work. Lead them out of your home if you don’t fancy the company and then let them go. Or, use the Ritual Stone power to raise a whole army of the undead!

• Permanent Decoration (and a Touch of the Macabre): Feeling creative? Using the Dead Thrall or Dread Zombie spell, you can permanently raise a corpse and then drag it to a non-respawning area, such as a player home, before killing it. Once slain in the home, the body will not vanish, offering a uniquely morbid decorating opportunity.

Choosing Your Corpse Disposal Method

The best approach depends on several factors:

• Your Platform: PC players have access to console commands, which offer unparalleled control. Console players are limited to in-game mechanics.
• Your Playstyle: Are you a practical adventurer, a meticulous housekeeper, or a power-hungry necromancer?
• Your Moral Compass: Are you comfortable raising the dead? Do you care if the local guards find a suspiciously large number of corpses floating down the river?
• Respawning Areas: Consider that some areas of the game will reset the cell after a certain number of days. If you put the corpse in an area like this, it will disappear after the cell has reset. Your houses, or other locations where you can own, tend to be a safe space for non-despawning.
• Mods: Are you using any mods that affect corpse disposal? Always check the mod descriptions for relevant details.
• The Type of NPC: As mentioned before, some NPC corpses will not despawn. Even if you leave the area for a while, some characters will still be there when you get back.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Dead Bodies in Skyrim

1. How long do corpses last in Skyrim?

As of Patch 1.3, a standard corpse will despawn after approximately 24 in-game hours when you are away from the specific cell where the body is located. However, revisiting the cell regularly will prevent despawning. Some bodies are also scripted to never despawn.

2. How do I keep dead bodies from disappearing in Skyrim?

The most reliable method is to use the Dead Thrall or Dread Zombie spell to permanently reanimate the corpse. Then, lead the thrall to a non-respawning area, such as a player home, and kill them there. The body will remain indefinitely.

3. Can I bury bodies in Skyrim?

While Skyrim doesn’t offer a default “bury” action, some mods allow you to create graves with custom engravings. This adds a layer of role-playing immersion for those who desire a more respectful farewell.

4. Is there a penalty for dying in Skyrim?

There’s no direct permanent penalty for dying in Skyrim. You simply respawn at a nearby location (or jail if you have a bounty). The notion that your character becomes “crippled” is incorrect.

5. Where do dead NPCs go in Skyrim?

In each city, you can usually visit a Hall of the Dead, inside of which are coffins containing the bodies of the fallen NPCs.

6. Can you pick up and move bodies in Skyrim?

Yes, you can. Hold down the activate button (usually X on Xbox controllers) while aiming at a corpse, and after a brief delay, you’ll grab and be able to drag the body around.

7. What is the Dead NPC Cleanup Cell?

The Dead NPC Cleanup Cell is an inaccessible area used by the game to store dead NPCs after they have been removed from the world. It’s essentially a digital graveyard.

8. What if I accidentally killed an important NPC? Can I bring them back?

For PC players, console commands offer a solution. Open the console, click on the corpse, and type resurrect. This will bring the NPC back to life. Be cautious, as resurrecting scripted characters can lead to quest bugs.

9. Does sleeping in a coffin have any benefits?

If you are a vampire, sleeping in a coffin grants the Vampiric Blood Rested bonus, which increases your resistance to magic by 10% for one in-game day.

10. What are embalming tools used for in Skyrim?

Embalming tools have no functional purpose in the base game. They are purely decorative items that can add atmosphere to a role-playing character’s home.

11. Can I become human again if I’m a Vampire Lord?

Yes, you can. Visit an inn and ask the innkeeper about rumors. Eventually, you’ll receive a rumor about Falion, which will initiate a quest to cure your vampirism. You’ll need a filled Black Soul Gem to complete the process.

12. Who are some NPCs who can’t be killed in Skyrim?

Essential NPCs, such as Mjoll, Serana, Freya, and Derkeethus, cannot be killed. They are marked as “essential” in the game’s code, preventing their permanent death.

13. What happens if my spouse dies in Skyrim?

Unfortunately, you can only marry once. If your spouse dies, there is no way to remarry in the vanilla game (without using console commands on PC).

14. Do animals despawn as well?

Yes, animals despawn as well, but not all the time. Animals that are part of a quest or part of an area may stay there until that area is re-set.

15. How much time is 72 hours in game to real time?

The default speed is x20, so 3.6 real hours for 72 in-game hours.

Beyond Disposal: Roleplaying and Reflection

Ultimately, what you do with the dead in Skyrim is a matter of personal preference and roleplaying. Consider the story you want to tell. Do you leave no trace, ensuring a clean and efficient path through the land? Or do you embrace the darker aspects of Skyrim, reveling in necromancy and transforming your home into a bone-filled museum? The choice is yours. Perhaps, while you ponder these decisions, you might also be interested in how games can influence learning. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about how games enhance cognitive and social skills. Now, go forth, Dragonborn, and manage those corpses with style and aplomb!