For almost a decade now,Skyrimhas been inspiring all sorts of fan creations, ranging from works of art to immaculate cosplay. Of course, its influence hasn’t stopped there, as it changed the way many RPGs are designed, with those changes lasting even today. With that in mind, it makes sense thatElder Scrollsfanscontinue to make tributes toSkyrim,though one fan, in particular, has outdone themselves.
Over on Reddit, user LongFineArt shared a recreation of the Skeleton Key that they made based on the in-game depiction. The Skeleton Key is a stunningly accurate recreation of the Daedric artifact, with the look and texture being shockingly close to theSkyrimversion. It’s clear that LongFineArt put a lot of care into the details, using oven-bake clay and an old paintbrush to bring it to life.
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LongFineArt also created a custom base for his creation, meant to maintain the same look and feel that the Skeleton Key itself boasts. It’s not hard to imagine the base appearing in-game either, if players were able to put the Skeleton Key on display. It’s immediately evocative ofSkyrim’s other trophy displays, which players can use to customize their homes throughout the province.
In-game, the Skeleton Key is an unbreakable lockpick that the player acquires, albeit only temporarily, during the Thieves Guild questline. The artifact is one of the most useful inSkyrim,as lockpicks are easy to come by but still a finite resource. Unfortunately, the Skeleton Key has to be returned to theDaedric Prince Nocturnalto complete the Thieves Guild questline, but players are able to unlock unbreakable lockpicks later on regardless.
LongFineArt has created a lot more than just the Skeleton Key in the past too, with his Etsy shop, AaronLongArt, decorated with art inspired by Bethesda’s iconic games. These range from otherSkyrimpieces toFalloutartwork and beyond, withthe Doom Slayermaking an appearance in a few impressive pieces. With so much experience, it makes sense that the Skeleton Key replica came out so well.
The lasting influence ofSkyrimis hard to deny, soThe Elder Scrolls 6will have big shoes to fill when it launches. With a strong community rallying behind the franchise, though, even if it fails to live up to expectations players can expect a flood of fan art, community projects, and more to soften the blow. Hopefully, that will include more projects like LongFineArt’s Skeleton Key.
Skyrimis available now for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
