This is what half the beauty, half the chaos, brings you to after wandering through the wonders of Cyrodiil in *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion*. Of the soupy marshes of Nibenay Valley, Bravil doesn’t share the stature of the Imperial City or the rough-hewn Cheydinhal; yet, it has that little strange vibe which makes it unforgettable.
First, the Great Chapel. And yes, yes, Mara would be the goddess of love, but in Bravil? It’s more about the not-very-normal views on devotion the people have than about all of the romance. Monumental itself, the chapel is very high over-the-things tumble-down wooden houses: coming down, they would shatter like the crabs after they’ve sneezed.
And the Nibenay Valley again-the way all that soaks-the stylish marshes run in every direction turning everything into sponge. Because of that, it’s very much cool. Wild-the flora and fauna are literally wild. You got will-o’-the-wisps luring travelers down the muck and slaughterfish skimming just below the murk, and oh, enough giant mushrooms to make a Khajiit skooma dealer green-eyed.
Bravil was rather notorious for being somewhat… well, I should say: ‘rough at the edges’. Getting pickpocketed while buying a loaf of bread is just just-it’s that kind of spot that you might walk into, possibly looking for the local inn while getting wronged. But then, it’s really what makes everything so charming, isn’t it? Not this highly polished, very artificial-feeling city-it’s just all dirty, gritty and full of character.
And don’t even mention the architecture. Most of these buildings seem to have been constructed as if they were nailed together out of driftwood and prayers. Walking these streets made feel like playing a dangerous version of *will this bridge hold my weight?* But that’s Bravil for you-unpredictable, messy, and weirdly lovable.
So let’s say, the next time, you’re going to load *Oblivion* and avoid tourist traps-of course you would want to take a detour to Bravil. Perhaps keep one hand on your coin purse, though. And watch out for those marshes-trust me, you do *not* want to find out what’s lurking in that water.
That’s right – Bravil; underrated; go there. Or don’t. But if you do, bring a healing potion. Or three.
