Children of the North Wind - Ruins of the Ancient Nords Mod

Children of the North Wind - Nordic Ruins Diversity

What does this mod intend to accomplish?

Children of the North Wind is an attempt to expand the diversity of the Ancient Nordic Crypts and ruins to add additional scope to their original monotonous burial style. Some of the most mundane barrows you explore in the vanilla game are actually meant to be the ruins of ancient population centers that rival the modern day hold capitals. Much of that grandeur was left on the cutting room floor considering some of the spectacular concept art provided for the game. Some of these concepts have finally been brought to life thanks to the talented work of several mod authors.

Core Module:

The core of the Children of the North Wind experience. Eleven locations scattered throughout skyrim have been edited with both new general and bespoke assets.

The list of locations in the Location module currently includes:

1. Bleakwind Bluff - Given a unique defensive tower design
2. Dragon Bridge - Given a brand new model
3. Forelhost - Transformed into the walled citadel that is described in the Seige of the Dragon Cult Quest
4. High Gate Ruins - Transformed into a raised fortress worthy of the mighty Vokun
5. Kilkreath Temple - Given an Exterior Overhaul to show an ornate fusion between Ancient Nordic architecture and Meridian Daedric Influences
6. North Skybound Watch - A more inspired take on the location, this location is given new meaning as an place of ritual sacrifice. To which god? Only the totems tell.
7. Ragnvald - Nestled in the warmest pockets of the Reach, Ragnvald is Transformed into a secluded sanctuary to the followers and prisoners of Otar the Mad
8. Saarthal - A more magical chamber awaits any traveler brave enough to reclaim the artifact of an Et Ada
9. Shroud Hearth Barrow - Once crammed beside a mountainside hamlet, Shroud Hearth now sits imposingly on a small cliffside hill with its own space to thrive.
10. Valthume - A palace built to venerate Hevnoraak, Valthume now resides in a more secluded grove with structural improvements to the priests palace
11. Volunruud - Once a hole in the ground, Volunruud has been given new purpose with a brand new model which alludes to the more sinister nature of this Crypt.

These Locations Require a great deal of compatibility patches even in a combined AIO form. At the moment, a modular version of the core location changes is not in development.

Animal Totem Variety (Base Object Swapper):

Despite having a pantheon depicting 9 animal totems representing their Gods, the Ancient Nords of Skyrim Seem to have only created monuments and reliefs to the Hawk and the Dragon. For an extra level of diversity, animal totem variants of the following furniture have been distributed to various dungeons around the game depending on their locational history, or story significance:

1. Totem Poles
2. Arches
3. Buildings
4. Braziers
5. Altars

If you think a dungeon I have chosen doesn't fit the totem I've assigned it, simply delete or modify its addition in the BOS Config.

Assorted Sculpture Heads (Base Object Swapper):

Distributes various helmet model variants of the iconic nordic stone face to give further thematic depth to the locations presented. The following variants have been distributed both around Skyrim randomy and to specified locations:

1. Draugr Helmets
2. Wolf Helmets
3. Dragon Priest Masks
4. The Jagged Crown
5. Magical Hoods

If you think a dungeon I have chosen doesn't fit the Sculpture Head I've assigned it, simply delete or modify its addition in the BOS Config.

Dragon Cult Bronze (Base Object Swapper):

Nordic Barrows in vanilla Skyrim utilize a singular cast iron like metal for most non-stone furniture. While the diversity of these items is impressive, I believe that giving certain dungeons in the game custom versions of the vanilla metal furniture forged from different metals adds a level of diversity not currently present in vanilla Nordic Ruins. The reasoning for choosing a bronze like material was due to the numerous Dragon Cult artifacts made of a material that shines like gold but corrodes like copper. I have used the logic that Nordic Ruins under the direct control of the Dragon Cult would have utilized this metal more than Vanilla shows. The bronze variants of wrought iron furniture are currently distributed via a Base Object Swapper JSON. If you think a dungeon I have chosen doesn't need bronze, simply delete its addition in the BOS Config.

Installation Instructions:

GET OFFICIAL PATCHES HERE

Future Plans:

1. More Totemic Variants
2. More reworks to large Ancient Nordic Complexes
3. Completing the Nordic/Daedric Clutter Hybrids
4. More comprehensive SWAP files for BOS
5. Expansion to Nordic Metals