Lost RPG Notes Reveal the D&D Campaign That Influenced Skyrim’s Creation

Original RPG notes that contributed to the lore of The Elder Scrolls series have been discovered and preserved, providing insight into how the vibrant world of Tamriel was crafted by its creators.

In a collaborative effort, two archival projects focused on The Elder Scrolls have released campaign notes from D&D sessions set in Tamriel. These notes originate from the estate of Julian LeFay, a key figure at Bethesda often referred to as the “father of The Elder Scrolls,” who passed away in July 2025. They detail two campaigns he ran during the development of The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall.

The second campaign is relatively well-known, having influenced the names of various characters and locations throughout the series. Although it was never completed, its storyline was concluded in an in-game novel titled The Fall of the Usurper. The notes are sparse but include maps of regions and dungeons in Daggerfall’s Dwynnen area.

However, the first campaign is particularly intriguing. The Dwynnen campaign is better recognized because elements of its narrative were incorporated into Daggerfall, but the details of the other campaign remained hidden until the discovery of LeFay’s notes. Spanning over 8,000 words, LeFay elaborates on characters, religions, and the Summerset Isles, the homeland of the High Elves. One of the player characters from this campaign, Vanus Galerion, continues to appear as an NPC in The Elder Scrolls Online.

It’s worth noting that a long-standing community myth suggests that the developers’ D&D campaigns were foundational in establishing the setting for The Elder Scrolls. While this isn’t accurate—these notes are from the Daggerfall era and do not precede Arena—it’s clear that tabletop roleplaying had a significant influence on The Elder Scrolls, with LeFay’s original maps helping to shape the entire world of Tamriel. With thousands of words of notes to sift through, it may take some time to fully appreciate the impact of these documents on the series, including The Elder Scrolls 6. However, it’s evident that this is a treasure trove of valuable information.

Todd Howard has mentioned that Elder Scrolls 6 “most definitely” features more trees than Skyrim, leading me to connect Valenwood to the location conspiracy board.