Tacitus Sallustius is an Imperial apprentice at Ghorza gra-Bagol‘s forge in Markarth. He is, by his own admission, not much of a smith. Nails are his specialty – and even those tend to come out brittle. He flinches at the hammer, hates the heat and gets queasy at the sight of blood, which is not ideal in a profession built around sharp objects.
Where to find them
He works at the blacksmith’s forge near Cidhna Mine, usually under Ghorza’s critical eye.
Quests
Skilled Apprenticeship: because Tacitus is struggling so badly, you’re asked to find a copy of The Last Scabbard of Akrash to help with his training.
Services
You can buy and sell smithing goods with him at the forge. Amusingly, he still advertises “the finest weapons and armor” when trading. If Ghorza dies, Tacitus nervously takes over the forge himself.
Personality & relationships
Their conversations are a comedy routine: Ghorza tells him to hit the metal harder, calls his work useless in proper Legion style, and orders more nails before he’s allowed near a blade; Tacitus apologises, explains that the forge gets so hot, and tries again. To his credit he keeps practising instead of quitting.
Good to know
Drop a piece of armor near him and he’ll ask if he can have it – then never actually picks it up. His name combines two Roman historians, Tacitus and Sallust.
Quick facts
- Race: Imperial
- Gender: Male
- Level: 6
- Class: Blacksmith
- Status: Killable
- Found in: Markarth
- Services: Sells blacksmithing goods at Ghorza’s forge
- Base ID: 0001402D
Also in Markarth
Thonar Silver-Blood, Thongvor Silver-Blood, Tynan, Uaile, Uraccen, Urzoga gra-Shugurz, Vigilant Tyranus, Voada, Weylin, Yngvar the Singer, Adara, Aicantar.
Race, level, class and factions read from the Skyrim game files; story details checked against community wiki articles and written in our own words.