Dirgesinger

Breton - Mace - Clothing - Heavy - Spellsword

Background

A Dirgesinger voice melodies not of celebration and joy but of sorrow and grief. They hold high positions in death obsessed cults as part of a hierarchy of death priests.

Weapons

Any one-handed weapon at the start of the game.

The final weapon is an Ebony Mace enchanted with both Fear and a lowered Absorb Stamina.

An Ebony Staff of Vanquishment can also be crafted with for a change of look from a regular spellsword instead of using Rout. An unenchanted Ebony Staff can be purchased from Master Neoloth at Tel Mithryn on Skyrim. With 3 Heartstones and knowledge of the Rout spell you can make the staff at a staff enchanter. You don’t need to complete the quest chain to unlock the one in Tel Mithryn as there are enchanters at Blood Chill Manor and Myrwatch.

Armour

Side with Ralof at Helgen and take the heavy armor from the Imperial Officer at the first combat encounter. When you have the Steel Smithing perk upgrade this to Steel Soldier gear by crafting it at a forge.

The final gear Hooded Black Mage and Ebony Plate Boots and Gauntlets.

The Hooded Mage Robes can be found by either encounters with Vampire Travellers in cities if you side with the Dawnguard or in the library room of Fellglow Keep during the Hitting the Books quest from the College of Winterhold.

The Ebony Plate Boots and Gauntlets can be crafted after you complete the quest called Heart of Crimson. The quest is triggered by a message by courier when you reach level 32. Although they can be sold by Blacksmiths without completing the quest.

Spells

Alteration for utility spells. Raise Dead spells from Conjuration. Fear spells from Illusion, Healing spells from Restoration.

Standing Stones

The Atronach Stone for 50% spell absorption, 50 magicka but -50% magicka regeneration.

Shrines

Use a Shrine of Mara so Restoration spells cost 10% less to cast.

Shouts

Character Creation

Female Breton

Bretons and High Elves have the highest skill point boost on 30/35. I decided to go with Breton for the Magic Resistance and the extra 5 points in speech, which although not used in the build seems more appropriate with a bard build.

Attribute Distribution

Distribute attributes at a ratio of 1 / 2 / 0. At level 63 which is required for all the perks the attributes are:

Perk Point Distribution

The skill boosts for Bretons are marked in bold.

Skills and Perks

Mage Skills

Warrior Skills

Rogue Skills

Spells

Alteration

Talk to the Steward in Dragonsreach to get a quest to investigate an assassination attemp on the Jarl. After reading the buiness ledger at Arcadia's Cauldron go the Whiterun Stables and on the body of a stablehand is a Detect Life spellbook. This can be used to level Alteration in a controlled manner.

Conjuration

Conjuring a Familiar to tank enemies for you may make the game easier at the start but it’s doesn’t really fit with the build. Bretons get this spell at the start of the game.

Destruction

Destruction is not needed in this build.

Illusion

Courage can be use to level Illusion and then later Rally.

Restoration

Healing spells are used more in the early game but are used for out of combat heals in the end game.

Enchantments

The effects listed below are based upon 100 Enchanting skill, all the enchanting perks in the build and with a set of enchanted crafting gear. Read my guide on making crafting gear if you are not familiar with it.

The absorb stamina is lowered 5 notches to the left to make fear the dominant enchantment. If you place the fear enchantment on first then when you lower the Absorb Stamina enchantment it will change from green to blue.

With the Sallowed Regent Black Book the magnitude of all enchantments can be increased. Please note that Black Books can only be used on Solstheim.

The magnitude of the enchantments can be further increased by equipping 4 pieces of Azhidal's gear.

Alchemy

Potion of Fortify Health

You can get all the Blue and Purple Mountain Flowers you need on the way to and in Whiterun. The two farms to the east of Whiterun also get you all the Wheat you need.

Potion of Fortify Carry Weight

Mora Tapinella are on the route from Helgen to Whiterun. There’s a lot of Scaly Pholiota to the south of Ivarstead and around Riften. Steel-Blue Entoloma are from Khajiit caravan merchants.

Potion of Fortify Enchanting

Dreugh Wax and Stoneflower Petals are only available from Khajiit caravans. Some travel between Whiterun and Markarth. Snowberries are abundant near Windhelm.

Potion of Fortify Smithing

Dreugh Wax and Gold Kanet are only available from Khajiit caravans. Some travel between Whiterun and Markarth. Glowing Mushrooms are in Falmer caves.

Farming

For more information on getting to and setting up your farm read my guide.

Main Area (27)

Side Area (11)

Planters (6)

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