In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, some of the best fun comes from the game’s RPG elements. The possibilities are endless, considering how many companions there are to recruit, guilds there are to join, and people there are to kill. You could do everything, like some limitless god, or restrict yourself to the activities and choices that make sense for your character. The game tries to give its players a good time either way. Some mods even improve the experience, like those which change how the introduction of the game occurs, or ones that add new questlines.
Skyrim even offers its players true domestic bliss; a marriage mechanic has been in the game since launch and an adoption option was added in DLC. Marriage ceremonies even occur in-game, attended by people from the quests the player has completed and the friends of the player’s spouse. Children are complicated enough to bring pets home and beg to keep them or ask for an allowance when you return home from a long trip. After a while, though, the human faces all tend to blend together. For truly original options, consider choosing one of the non-human spouse candidates available in the game. There are only nine, five of which are male.
5 Gat gro-Shargakh
Gat gro-Shargakh is one of the men that players can marry in Skyrim. He’s an orc living just outside of Markarth. He and Pavo Attius worked in the Kolskeggr Mine there, until it was overrun by Foresworn. They ask the Dragonborn to reclaim the mine with them and kill their invaders.
It’s clear during the fighting that Gat is an honorable man; one random dialogue reveals that he left his clan and cannot return without killing the chief, his own brother. If the player completes this quest, Gat gro-Shargakh becomes a potential marriage candidate.
4 Ghorbash the Iron Hand
Ghorbash the Iron Hand is an orc soldier who’s led a good life. He left his home stronghold, southeast of Markarth, to adventure into the world, but Orcish culture demands that no Orc leave the stronghold without permission. Ghorbash disobeyed these rules and was officially exiled. He went on to serve in the Imperial Legion as a young man, but eventually decided he wanted to return home. When he got back, it turned out that his brother, Burguck, had become the chief. Burguck agreed to forgive Ghorbash for leaving and made a place for him in the clan.
When the player finds his stronghold and meets him, Ghorbash admits that he misses adventuring, but doesn’t want to risk dishonor. The player can convince him to leave through a brawl, a persuasion check, or a bribe. Having left his home for good with you, marriage is now an option!
3 Scouts-Many-Marshes
Scouts-Many-Marshes is an Argonian man who works at the docks of Windhelm, the Stormcloak capital in Skyrim. Argonians were banned from living within the city by Ulfric Stormcloak, so Scounts-Many-Marshes and many other Argonians live just outside the city limits, earning money by helping the Nords unload their ships.
They don’t earn much, however, as Scouts-Many-Marshes will complain to the Dragonborn. Torbjorn Shatter-Shield, who runs the docks, is underpaying them. If the player goes and convinces Torbjorn to increase the dock workers’ pay, Scouts-Many-Marshes will be incredibly grateful to you for the help. If you approach him wearing an amulet of Mara, Scouts-Many-Marshes will even become a marriage candidate.
2 Moth gro-Bagol
Moth gro-Bagol, a handsome, bearded Orc, is the personal smith for the Jarl of Markarth. He grew up with a sister, Ghorza, before leaving their stronghold and venturing into the world. While his sister preferred unconventional ways of learning, Moth joined the Imperial Legion to hone his craft. When the Dragonborn meets him, he’s crafting a sword for the Jarl.
When Moth tells the player about it, he says that, supposedly, the Jarl asked for his sword to be cooled in blood (Moth complains that he prefers to just use water). He tells the player that he needs a Daedra heart to complete this task, but he can’t find it. In return for procuring one, Moth says he’ll craft the Dragonborn special armor. As an added bonus, he’ll also become available for marriage!
1 Derkeethus
When the player ventures to Darkwater Crossing, a mining settlement in East March, they’ll start to hear the residents talk about Derkeethus. One man mentions in passing that Derkeethus used to go fishing in cavern pools, but that he hadn’t seen him in some time. A young Nord girl will tell the player that she misses Derkeethus because he used to take her swimming in the river.
If the player picks up on these hints and journeys to the places the residents talk about, they’ll discover Darkwater Pass. There, Derkeethus is being held captive by the Falmer. The Dragonborn can slaughter those creepy elves and save his life. This kindness makes this Argonian eligible as a companion or spouse.
NEXT: 10 Things You Never Knew About Skyrim’s Development
