Bethesda
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has one of its biggest memes debunked by a medieval history expert
Would an arrow in the knee leave you incapable of adventuring? A history expert studied one of Skyrim’s biggest and most legendary memes to find an answer
“I used to be an adventurer like you, but then I took an arrow in the knee.” It is one of the most popular phrases in recent video game history, uttered by one of the NPCs we meet in the first towns you visit in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Since 2011, the year in which the now legendary RPG by Bethesda released, millions of players have wondered if it wouldn’t really be possible to continue adventuring once recovered from the wound caused by an arrow. Well, an expert in medieval history, moved by the recurring comments on his YouTube channel asking him about the matter, has been encouraged to respond.
Could we be adventurers after receiving an arrow in the knee?
Kevin Hicks is responsible for the History Squad channel, where he divulges various aspects of the Middle Ages, and on this occasion, not only moved by the comments, but also by his own son, he has decided to reveal this mystery. “In medieval times, if you were hit in the knee with an arrow, could you survive? Could you be a soldier again? What would happen to you?”
The answer is simple, and as he says, it obviously depends on the trajectory of the arrow. As he explains, the tibia and fibula are attached to the femur by tendons and ligaments, and depending on which of them was affected, and how, it would be possible to fully recover. As he explains, to some extent, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is historically and medically accurate, as an arrow could completely rupture one of the ligaments, an injury that currently requires surgery, but which would obviously not be possible then. However, yes, you could recover if the rupture is partial, or if the tendons are affected since these do regenerate on their own.
Meanwhile, with Skyrim practically present on all existing platforms, we can sit and wait until Elder Scrolls 6 arrives. Todd Howard has already stated that it could be his last game, and although in principle it was going to be exclusive to Xbox Series, with the possible change of course from Microsoft it could reach more platforms in addition to PC.