Medieval expert who had never heard of Skyrim until 2024 breaks down what would happen if you took an arrow to the knee in painstaking detail

GamesRPGSkyrimMedieval expert who had never heard of Skyrim until 2024 breaks down what would happen if you took an arrow to the knee in painstaking detailWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

GamesRPGSkyrimMedieval expert who had never heard of Skyrim until 2024 breaks down what would happen if you took an arrow to the knee in painstaking detailWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Bethesda)

Skyrim

“I used to be an adventurer like you, then I took an arrow in the knee,” is probably one of the most recognizable quotes from any video game, despite only being a throwaway bark inSkyrim. In fact, the line is so popular on the internet, it even reached a medieval expert who decided to seriously break down the mechanics of such an injury in historical context.

The video below does get into some gory details, which the squeamish among us might want to avoid. Though Hicks only demonstrates the arrow-to-the-knee injury on a plastic model that replicates the kneecap and the ligaments that hold it all together.

My favorite part of the video shows actual drawings from the period, demonstrating the makeshift contraptions that people with injuries and disabilities used to move. Hicks himself actually recreated one such brace, a strap made from copper strips and leather, which he says wouldn’t make an injured soldier battle ready again, though it would make guard duty bearable. So, Skyrim? Historically accurate.

Skyrim keeps surprising with this Doom-era demake.

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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis board game models and tokens laid out on a board

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1

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Shadow brandishes a gun in Sonic The Hedgehog 3

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

4

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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

5

Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

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Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor and Nicola Coughlan as Joy in Doctor Who Christmas special Joy to the World

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1

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2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

2

Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

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3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

3

Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

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4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

4

Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

5

Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”

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