71

I just created my new character 2 hours ago and I've reached a town. Sometimes random guards will comment that I look ill, or that I should rest. "You look sick, honey. Do you want to lie down?", isn't uncommon.

Did I unexpectedly get vampirism? I didn't fight any vampires, only a couple of wolves and bandits.

I'm a dark elf, so maybe my race isn't seen much around Skyrim and the remarks are more roleplay than actual illness.

Any ideas?

Improve this question
4
  • Sounds like you got a disease, but that's just me guessing - the NPC in the TES series had a habit of commenting on your condition in such a way at least from Morrowind on, if not earlier.
    – Martin Sojka
    Commented Nov 8, 2011 at 13:30
  • I'm a breton and I keep hearing that too. I'm not diseased tho.
    – bazz
    Commented Nov 14, 2011 at 10:49
  • I dont think it has to do with race, Im an Imperial and get the same remarks. maybe a bug?
    – user15749
    Commented Dec 2, 2011 at 19:53
  • Probably just a critic to your real life. NPCS inside a game,are telling you to get some sleep,because you probably look sick after all that time playing Skyrim. Just kidding, @RavenDreamer answered it right, im with Rockjoint since i started playing Skyrim. Damn disease, i remember the Worm or w.e that bit me,and im still sick.
    – Marcello Grechi Lins
    Commented Dec 2, 2011 at 20:15

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
72

You might want to double-check your wolf bites. Wolves have a chance of carrying "Rockjoint", a disease which decreases your melee damage dealt. NPCs use those responses for all diseases, not just Porphyric Hemophilia Sanguinare Vampiris (aka, Vampirism).

So the good news: You're probably not accidentally a vampire.

But the NPCs are probably right too - you're suffering from something. The simplest way to fix all this is to cast a Cure Disease spell on yourself, chug a Cure Disease Potion, or the like.

Visiting a temple in any city and praying at their altar will instantly cleanse non-vampire / werewolf diseases from the afflicted, and give you a temporary buff to boot.

Improve this answer
5
  • 2
    I did have Rockjoint! A good prayer at the alter and I'm good. :D
    – Only Bolivian Here
    Commented Nov 13, 2011 at 14:37
  • 1
    I'm not sure how accurate this is. I've had alchemists say I look like I might have Ataxia - but I'm a werewolf, immune to disease!
    – Iszi
    Commented Dec 25, 2011 at 1:15
  • 28
    @Iszi - Arcadia (The alchemist in Whiterun) thinks everyone has Ataxia. She's a hypochondriac, and projects onto others.
    – Raven Dreamer
    Commented Dec 25, 2011 at 2:22
  • 2
    Is there actually a cure disease spell in Skyrim?
    – TZHX
    Commented Apr 10, 2013 at 13:30
  • 1
    @TZHX: Yes and no. Yes, because technically speaking, the altar blessings are implemented as spells that the altar casts on you. No, because there is no spell you can cast yourself without mods.
    – Kevin
    Commented Jan 23, 2016 at 18:26
26

Another easy way to check is to go to your "active effects" on magica. If any effects are marked in red, these are negative/hurtful, and the description will tell you if it's a disease.

Improve this answer
3

I made the palest Wood Elf possible and I get told I look sick all the time, but I have no active effects and even after praying I still get told I look sick.

I've never seen a Nord with a tan anyway so I don't know why a pale Elf is something that needs to be commented on.

Improve this answer
2
  • Yeah, Dolphine there are no tanned nords. Is she a nord though? Anyway, this keeps happening to me too all the time, irrelevantly of whether I am sick or not and the apothecaries tell me that they think there's something wrong with me when there's nothing so I guess that it has to do with your race (dunmer for me).
    – user14262
    Commented Nov 14, 2011 at 8:31
  • I'm a High Elf, and always presumed this to be the case also.
    – Iszi
    Commented Dec 25, 2011 at 1:15

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.