There are a lot of creatures, NPCs, and wildlife that go into bringing the world of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim to life. One of the most gentle beasts in Tamriel, unless the player threatens or attacks them, is the mammoth. These familiar-looking animals are protected by the giants, who stroll the land and set up camps. Such is the bond between these two that a giant can be seen mourning a dead mammoth in Eastmarch. Now, a user has discovered another mammoth that is also long-dead, only this one has been frozen in time.
In a post uploaded to Reddit recently, user u/Pattypuss said that after a decade of playing, they are still discovering new things in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. A screenshot they posted shows one of the game's mammoth creatures frozen in a huge glacier. Stuck between layers of ice, the mammoth also appears to have some arrows and broken implements sticking out its body. Add to that its mouth being open in what seems to be agony, it suggests this creature died in battle before freezing over.
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According to the original poster, this screenshot was taken between Skyrim's northern Dawnstar and Winterhold locations, both of which exist within the coldest regions of the map. While the user doesn't specifically say whereabouts the mammoth is located, the fact that it's contained within a large glacier suggests that it's something that some may find if they traverse the coast from Dawnstar.
Much like many of the hidden details within Skyrim, there is an air of mystery to this scene. While it's quite clear that the animal likely died in pain, the fact that their flesh has yet to rot away suggests that this was a recent fight. However, one commenter on the thread noticed that the arrows are of Dwemer origin, which arguably places the scene much further back in the game's history. It's entirely possible that this mammoth has been there for some time, and the ice has simply preserved it, rather than it rotting away to a skeleton.
Speaking of skeletons, it's possible to discover the remains of a mammoth just to the east of Whiterun. While it's not quite the solemn scene the mourning giant in Eastmarch is, it's still an interesting find. It shows that these magnificent creatures not only roam the world of Tamriel with their protectors right now, but they've played a role in the lore and history of Skyrim.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is available now on PC, PS3, PS4, Switch, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
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Source: Reddit
