Summary
Despite the traditional Nord distrust of mages in Skyrim, every Jarl has a Court Wizard to advise them on arcane matters. ThroughoutSkyrim’s story and various side quests, the role of the Court Wizard is seen to help rather than hinder the Jarls over and over again, most notably seen in Whiterun with Jarl Balrguuf and his Court Wizard’s help with the Dragon Crisis.
However, the Jarls keep Court Wizards in spite of the suspicions of the people they rule. Most of the time, these suspicions amount to nothing more than superstition, but in the case of the Court Wizard of Morthal, Falion, there may be truth to this case. There is probably no other Court Wizard inSkyrimmore suspect than Falion.
Falion’s Role in Morthal
Morthal in Context
Morthal is widely regarded as one ofthe weirdest capitals of the Holds in all of Skyrim. It’s located in a marsh, and so is hard to reach. The swamp that surrounds it is treacherous and filled with dangerous beasts, while the marsh itself is also a source of danger. Once arriving in Morthal, it becomes apparent that a vampire coven is nearby, and one of the vampires has already claimed a family, including a child.
Falion’s Biggest Defender
Conversely,the Jarl of Morthal, Idgrod Ravencrone, is surprisingly competent at her job. She is a seer and has the gift of foresight. While some in Morthal think she’s losing her mind thanks to her magic, she takes her role as Jarl and the wellbeing of her people seriously. One of the most contentious issues she faces involves her Court Wizard, Falion, who many in Morthal don’t trust and insist she get rid of; her refusal to do so is one of the biggest sources of the rift between her and her people.
Falion’s Backstory and How He Arrived at Morthal
Falion is a Redguard mage who lives with an adopted orphan, Agni, who he teaches magic. He tells the Dragonborn that he used to teach Conjuration at the College of Winterhold, before leaving and settling in Morthal. That he’s a Conjurer is important to note because, while all magic in Skyrim carries a stigma,Conjuration magic probably has the worst reputation thanks to necromancyand the Daedra. This likely added to Falion’s reputation, but it’s undeniable that Falion also has other dodgy characteristics attributed to him that don’t apply to the other Court Wizards.
Falion Isn’t All He Appears to Be
Actions Beyond a Court Wizard
If the Dragonborn pays attention to the rumors that Falion sneaks out at night, they can wait outside his home. At 1am, Falion will leave and venture into the swamp, and eventually stop at a Summoning Stone circle, which necromancers typically use. In his day-to-day, Falion sells Black Soul Gems, an item associated with necromancy.Falion is also the only character who can cure vampirism inSkyrim, and asks for a Black Soul Gem filled with a Black Grand Soul in return. Despite being a wizard,Skyrim’s game files state that he does not know any spells.
The Implications of Falion’s Actions
Reporting back to Jarl Idgrod results in her keeping a close eye on Falion, but it doesn’t go anywhere. As Falion is a Conjurer,sells Black Soul Gems, visits the Summoning Stones, and can cure vampirism, it’s likely he’s a necromancer. It is very strange that he cannot cast any spells himself, especially as he was once a teacher at the College of Winterhold. Perhaps there was once a longer quest attached to Falion that had to be removed fromSkyrimat launch, but without such a thing, he remains a dubious figure. Maybe he’s actually helping Morthal in the depths of the night, or perhaps he has dangerous plans just outside the player’s view.
