We've Finally Figured Out this GIANT Skyrim Mystery

Skyrim's Giants have always been one of the more mysterious inhabitants of the nine holds. Beyond their large stature, giants in The Elder Scrolls are surrounded by a number of more terrestrial mysteries as well. They practice a unique, strange culture, share both human and elven characteristics and hold a strange grudge with Malacath.

Thus today we explore Skyrim's biggest (B'dum 'tss) mystery as we investigate the origins and nature of Tamriel's Giants

[Dragoncrown]

In a parallel universe, Nate shows us a tiny skyrim ad before he goes deep into the lore of world of tanks

[chip_potatosister]

Bro is like the dad that leaves and comes back every two months

[coyoteseattle]

The giants having access to levitation magic would also be an excellent lore-friendly explanation for the Skyrim space program!

[apjtv]

Giants can smack the ground so hard that they launch a fully armour-clad warrior hundreds of feet into the air. Them carrying a boulder up a mountain is entirely believable.

[TrainsFilmedByRussellBynum]

Kinda surprised you didn’t mention that the Dwemer get their “Dwarf” nickname from Giants, when they evidently had both a voice to speak and cultural influence amongst humans to spread their nomenclature.

[jcreid]

I feel in the Hearthfire dlc you should have had the ability to send a cow for sacrifice to keep the giants from attacking your homestead

[cedricvelarde]

Bandits: wants mammoth for food
Dragonborn: Wants mammoth for Grand soul gem

[treybrzezowski]

Crazy thing happened to me once a couple months ago; The Giant in the Malacath Shrine had a bit of a bug in his AI that day and just stood there and let Yamarz attack him! Yamarz was able to take down the giant completely on his own... well, at least until the Giant got to about 10% of his HP left, then he remembered he was supposed to fight back, then he one-shot Yamarz. But it was the first time I genuinely wasn't lying when I told Atub that Yamarz fought bravely.

[Ātēkuāni]

Considering Giants are shown living semi sedentary nomadic lives, I'd say Guldun rock is a religious site, two offering fires surrounded by offerings and sacrifices from around Skyrim brought by Giant pilgrims, it would explain the beacon fire on the platform. Also Giants are pretty self sufficient so I doubt they are trading there, rather they most likely leave their offerings there for spiritual protection on their camps and cattle which is why they arnorn them with markings, perhaps it's a form of primal magic which requires being connected with those rocks and perhaps the Spirits inhabiting them.

[High-Overlord-Pugula]

Nate dropping a Skyrim video in 2024 like a champ. It's got to be hard to be a Bethesda Skyrim/Fallout YouTuber considering they haven't put out a single player Fallout/Elder Scrolls game in almost 10 years.

[SketchySkullKnight]

Petition to put Nate in TES:6 as a scholar who chronicles the history of Nirn

[aundria]

The giants were never something I thought to question in Skyrim. They were just… there. Part of the world as much as the rest of Tamriel’s magical and fantastical creatures. It’s fascinating to speculate deeper into their lore!

[linogden]

Idk if anyone else has brought this up, but I've a theory? The Talking Stones might be a literal meaning? "Talking Stones" the stones where giants come to 'Talk', maybe like a Moot area? You have until/begin when the sun sets between the two stones to speak. Additionally, Secunda's Kiss, it might be a Lunar calendar? They watched the moons set behind the Mountain and watched the moons phases, marking 16 stones for each of the two Moons 8 phases? (Honestly just a hypothesis, but I thought it might be something to bring up!!)

[capnkraken]

Another fun bit of evidence towards the “giants are ancient atmorans” theory: the sketch titled “Talos bids farewell to the king of Atmora”, where the king is HUGE compared to Talos. Makes a lot of sense now why the king is so big.

[cmac]

Secunda is not just a moon. It’s the greatest soundtrack on any video ever created. EVER! It’s even in shorts that have no relation to Elder scrolls or video games in that matter.

[ethefirst]

i absolutely love the farmer encounter in skyrim, those little things, learning about the culture and superstitions of just average day to day people is so cool

[Aethrin]

A few additions. The atmoran patterns are not entirely forgotten. They were heavily used in ancient nordic weaponry and even armor (if you look close enough). The current Nordic steel has taken it in a (multigenerational shifted sense) direction also.

Secondly, We have known that the Atmorans were taller since release. When you meet Ysgramor in Sovenguarde, he is noticeably taller than the Nord counterparts.

[camruh]

Was just about to go to bed, perfect timing

[SJSALT]

Nate continues to reveal the mind boggling depths of Bethesdas ES5.
For some of us, life is too or hectic to fully explore this masterpiece of a game. Thank you Nate!

[xenjanobody]

Just gonna share my favorite follower build I always build towards in a new playthrough.

Mjoll the Lioness, she’s unkillable by enemies and you equip her with the giant’s club laying around one of the camps. You cannot pick this item up and use but if you have her take it, she will automatically equip it and it’s very powerful.

I’m not sure if this is a known build but I found this out years ago in a playthrough and never went back since she’s killed things in a single swing