The Elder Scrolls: Arena/Walkthrough

The game begins with the title screen, title sequence, and then it shows the load/start game screen. Clicking Start game will show a sequence of images before prompting you to choose your class. You then enter your name and gender, and region/race of origin. Then you roll stats and add additional bonus stats to your preferred stats. Finally, you get to choose from several pre-set face and head appearances.

Title sequence

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For centuries different factions battled in petty wars and border conflicts, until in 2E 896 Tiber Septim crushed all those who opposed him and took control, proclaiming himself as Emperor. Still, the bitter years of war had its affect on the populace. The name Tamriel, Elvish for 'Dawn's Beauty', seldom fell from anguished lips and was soon forgotten. In a place where life and death were different sides of the same coin tossed every day, the people of the known world began calling the land of their sorrow, the Arena...

Now, 492 years after Tiber Septim took control and kept the peace, the land of Arena has a new threat. The Emperor, Uriel Septim VII celebrates his forty-third birthday. But jealous hearts desire the throne and plot his downfall.

It is said that hope flies on death's wings. Prepare then, for as the Elder Scrolls foretold, it will be here that your adventure begins...

—Game title sequence

Starting a new game

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  Uriel Septim IV, Emperor of Tamriel, stands with Talin, leader of the Imperial Guards.

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  They have been summoned by Jagar Tharn, Imperial Battle Mage of the Empire, on rumors of treachery...

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  The Emperor is betrayed...

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  And transported to a dimension of Tharn's choosing...

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  After months of preparation Jagar Tharn, takes the throne...

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  Ria Silmane, once Tharn's apprentice, is capture before she can warn the Elder council of the Imperial Battle Mage's treachery...

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  Manipulating the essence of magic, Tharn prepares to take the Emperor's place as ruler of the known land...

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  The Imperial Wizard wastes no time in gathering his servants...

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  And turning them into twisted counterparts of the Emperors Guard...

Class selection

You can now select from one of the following pre-made classes or make your own.

Pre-made classes

• Acrobat: "Thy body and mind must be agil and quick if thou art to succeed as a Acrobat."
• Archer
• Assassin
• Barbarian
• Bard
• Battlemage
• Burglar
• Healer
• Knight
• Mage
• Monk
• Nightblade
• Ranger
• Rogue
• Sorcerer
• Spellsword
• Thief
• Warrior

Name and gender

After selecting your class, you will be prompted to enter your name and gender.

Origin

"From where dost thou hail"? Choose one of the regions on the map to select a race (starting from the top and rotating clockwise; Imperial Province is not selectable):

• Skyrim: Nords
• Morrowind: Dark Elves
• Black Marsh: Argonians. "Thy race is born of the swamps, thou hast stayed thyself from the open fields, for thou art hunters of a different sort, those who stalk thy prey in the still black waters..."
• Elsweyr: Khajits
• Valenwood: Wood Elves
• Summerset: High Elves
• Hammerfell: Redguards
• High Rock: Bretons

"Go ye now in peace. Let thy fate be written in the Elder Scrolls..."

Stat bonus

After selecting your origin you get to see your stats. To re-roll stats press Done, then Re-roll. Try to get above 59 in your primary stats (e.g. Acrobat uses Agi & Spd). Then you can click on the stat in the left column, then click the up or down arrow to add or remove stat points (you cannot lower the stat below what was rolled). In general, for every 5 points 50 stats you will get a +1 to a modifier (e.g. Agi 55 = +1 to hit, Agi 60 = +2 to hit, etc.).

Appearance adjustment

Click on your character's face to change to a different facial/head appearance. Each race has several to choose from.

Skyrim: Nords

Morrowind: Dark Elves

Black Marsh: Argonians

Elsweyr: Khajits

Valenwood: Wood Elves

Summerset: High Elves

Hammerfell: Redguards

High Rock: Bretons

The Quest

To rescue the Emperor from the dimension in which Jagar Tharn has imprisoned him, by recovering the eight pieces of the Staff of Chaos.

—Manual p.4

The game then shows you an image of a woman:

Do not fear for it is I, Ria Silmane. <Player Name>, listen to me, there are no others left to carry on this fight. You have been left in this cell to die. Jagar Tharn, Imperial

—Ria Silmane

Finally you are teleported you into the first Imperial Dungeon.