New Faction:The Circle

[Assassin540]

I just saw in the achievments post that you can join something called the circle any thoughts on what it is? I personally think it sounds like a criminal organization share your thoughts

[OblivionDuruza]

I saw that too and was going to post about it. So I take it there's no other info on it? I couldn't find anything else out there.

[MathiasFlynnias]

I think it's a religion based society. I remember seeing references to 'a' circle as a holy place by the Akatosh priests roaming the tundra but not 'the' circle. But then again it could be completely unrelated and I suspect I am because of the name of the achievement.

[Assassin540]

I saw that too and was going to post about it. So I take it there's no other info on it? I couldn't find anything else out there.

Yeah don't think so man what do you think it is if you had to guess?

[OblivionDuruza]

There's so little to go on, but it does evoke thoughts of either the Arcane or the Sacred. So a religious or mystical order would be my guess. Could be anything though. An order of Knights, a syndicate of some kind. We can't really tell.

[MathiasFlynnias]

An order of the preservation of Talos maybe? Considering they most likely have gone underground from being hunted... A blood pact of secrecy? Seems to fit in with the achievement.

[Assassin540]

There's so little to go on, but it does evoke thoughts of either the Arcane or the Sacred. So a religious or mystical order would be my guess. Could be anything though. An order of Knights, a syndicate of some kind. We can't really tell.

Yeah I was thinking it would be a syndicate hope so anyway they need a good criminal faction I cmon the thieves guild cant kill anyone theres no fun to being a criminal if you don't kill

[OblivionDuruza]

There is the Dark Brotherhood though. Besides, the Thieves Guild looks to be very interesting this time around. And from what I know so far, there might be a darker and more brutal side to Skyrim's TG Quetsline.

[Assassin540]

There is the Dark Brotherhood though. Besides, the Thieves Guild looks to be very interesting this time around. And from what I know so far, there might be a darker and more brutal side to Skyrim's TG Quetsline.

Where did you hear that?

[OblivionDuruza]

Spoiler:

I read about a hands-on that involved an early Thieves Guild mission, involving dealing with a guard or merchant (although I don't think it was about killing) - I can't quite recall at the moment (Je suis epuise). Further the Guild is presumably going through a dark period, as the player must restore it, as indicated by the Achievements that have been released.

[penumbra25]

From the structure of the achievements, it seems possible that the circle is just a rank within the companions. Looking at the other confirmed factions' achievements, there seems to be a 10 point achievement for joining the faction, a 10 point achievement for reaching a midpoint, and a 30 point achievement for a final achievement in the faction.

[OblivionDuruza]

That makes sense actually. Seeing as there was a guild probably linked to the Companions in Riverwood, which apparently was not called The Companions. Maybe the nature of the faction is that they are segmented and/or include different groups. Maybe the Circle is just the 'inner' circle of another Faction.

[martez87]

penumbra25 is right, pretty sure that its not a new faction, just a part of the companions quest line.

[xopsi]

Yeah. That is it.
And if you look, the main quest is listed first, then one for joining a faction, then two more for that faction. It does it for every faction in the game, and then does misc. Achievements.

There are 3 achievements for each faction, excluding the main quest, and then the misc. achievements.

[JockoBeans]

The Circle is probably the ruling council under the High King. So I imagine that is what the Dovakiin will be a member of.

[Knight]

Note: the achievement's name is "Blood Oath".

Thus:

• The Circle is very strict about it's members, and it might be a secret part of a guild, like you said.
• It's the vampire faction. C'mon, it's possible. Achievements and trophies often have puns in their names.

[Chaos the N'wah]

When I first saw it, I thought of the Redguard theology of the "walkabout" prevalent in their pantheon as a form of immortality...

But I'm crazy as all get out..

[OblivionDuruza]

While we're on the subject of new factions/sub-factions. Today I discovered the Battle-Born, a possible opponent or companion organisation of the Stormcloacks. Here's the link: http://www.psxextreme.com/ps3-news/9956.html

[AeraDunmerMoon]

I'm highly surprised that no one has suggested that the Circle could be a cult that worships Dragons. Nords used to in the past. Then again, seeing as how the player could join it...

Spoiler:

Of course, the player was able to join the Mythic Dawn in Oblivion, if only for a brief time, so perhaps it isn't so far fetched.

[Eltee]

The Circle is not a new faction. It is the inner tier of the Companion's leadership, by the look of things. I mean,


Take Up Arms 10
Join the Companions (2)
Blood Oath 10
Become a member of the Circle (6)
Glory of the Dead 30
Complete "Glory of the Dead"
Gatekeeper 10
Join the College of Winterhold (2)
Revealing the Unseen 10
Complete "Revealing the Unseen"
The Eye of Magnus 30
Complete "The Eye of Magnus" (2)
Taking Care of Business 10
Join the Thieves Guild (1)
Darkness Returns 10
Complete "Darkness Returns"
One with the Shadows 30
Returned the Thieves Guild to its former glory






Look at the order. It is just the second of three achievements in the Companions storyline.

[AeraDunmerMoon]

Yeah, well, as far as I'm concerned, that's a hypothesis until the game actually comes out, so excuuuuse me. xp

[Knight]

Well, pretty much everything we say is hypothetical until Skyrim comes out and proves our theories.

[The Skyrim Blog]

The structure of the Achievement list strongly suggests that it is some sort of inner 'circle' of The Companions

Of course, I'd love to be wrong, and find that it is some sort of priestly caste or guild of necromancers or something. However I doubt that will be case...

[OblivionDuruza]

Just on the Battleborn, it seems they are supporters of the Empire, and in a feud with the Stormcloacks as:

Feuds in Whiterun; one family [the battleborns] side with the empire and another sides with the rebels; a lot of tension is present and petty fights in the streets are encountered.

[xopsi]

So why?

Why would there be ONE achievement for the circle and two for the companions, but all the other factions have 3 achievements?

you're letting your hopes for there being a new faction get in the way of what's actually there. its part of the companions questline, end of story.

ever since oblivion, bethesda has coupled together every related achievement. a group for the main quest, a group for the companions, mages guild, thieves guild, and dark brotherhood. all in their own group. then, after all of those are listed, they list the misc. such as reach level 25 and find 100 locations.

how are you missing this?


if there are any new factions, which i'm positive there are, they are minor and don't have their own achievements.

they fall under the "50 misc. objectives".