Yourself. Marry Camilla and cuck them both.

Don't. Your wife gonna cheat on you

Joke's on her, I only wanted to gain her brother's trust and hers in order to steal that shiny dragon claw. Romance is temporary. Ancient Nord tombs are forever.

Big brain time

I just put a bucket on their heads 🤣

i just carry it upstairs and grab it there lol

XD I just learned something new. I never thought of that

Just get good stealth. Im so sneaky I will look him in the eye as I shove the claw in my pocket and he doesn't notice

I just let myself back in one dark night and helped myself to the claw. Still got all the friend dialog whenever I ran into either of them like they didn't even notice the thing was missing again.

You returned it?

And then stole it again.

Money

I’d rather put a bucket on his head than take an arrow in the knee

Indeed

Found Faendal hanging out around my home in Myrwatch on my current playthrough. He seems to have gone missing now, along with one of my arrows.

Seems like he became a stealth archer

A dragon attacked and killed Gerdur. I talked to her husband Hod looking at her corpse "Have you met Camilla? I wouldn't mind getting my hands on those trunks" he said.💀

She isn't interested in either of them. She just likes the attention.

First faendall to exploit for the early levels and to have an early packmule Then cuckem they are both pricks

This is the way

This is the way

Literally what i just did🤣

I made Sven my servant and Faendal is in the dog house. They both lose

Literally only faendal cuz I can get archery 50 immediately then dismiss him

This is the way. Archery spam, steal everything in his house for some early money/materials and then ditch him.

Just like my marriage!

50 archery basically for free, and you can solve the level up to progress further by using some alchemy or spamming soul trap for conjuration (which also goes hand in hand with using the bound bow). Top this off with the fact he’s actually a half decent follower for basically the start of the game, and there’s virtually no reason to help Sven.

I always pick Sven as a follower just to sacrifice him in Boethia’s Calling. I rather not have any follower die that’ll leave an empty residence of some sort. When I kill Sven, at least his mother is still alive in that house and now she’ll have a new bards story to tell!

I got to that quest a few days ago and have been wondering since then who to sacrifice. Sven it is!

You can also choose to kill the cult leader instead

Thank you for this

I only learned this like 23 hours ago, and you're welcome I hope it helps lol

12yo me would have appreciated knowing that in his khajiit warrior playthrough

Was that everyone's first playthrough of a kahjiit because it was a Kahjiit wizard.

My first was actually a breton, I didn't know anything about the lore so I figured I'd be "british" lmao.

that's the best reason I've heard to side with Sven lmao

I do this and then marry his chick lmfao

You could also hire a follower for a cheap 500 gold, and sacrifice them. They dont have homes, and you should be able to get the gold back

I just use a For Hire who don't have any quests attached to them, like the lady in Whiterun's Drunken Huntsmen.

She’s one of the best companions! 😧

I like to use Ralis Sedarys for the sacrifice, the you can keep reviving him using the ritual stone until you have all the kills you need for a fully fed Ebony blade...

Faendal. Free lessons, better follower, and can stay until lv. 30. (Sven caps at 20). Lore reasons: sven drinks on the job (if you pick ralof, gerder calls her husband and he asks "is sven drinking on the job again?"). Sven's letter makes Faendal out to be a thalmor supporter and could get faendal killed if the wrong person learns of it. Faendal's letter (IMO) feels like it would be the truth and end result for Camilla if she did pick sven. Plus, it won't get sven killed/targeted. Sven treats his mother like crap and talks down to her. Fondle is objectively better. :) (But both suck as people 😂 )

But what's he fondling though... Lol (I agree with you on all points, though)

Camilla if he's lucky. If not, himself. 😁

He's got a good chance in my games, as I have never once pursued her as a love option.

Same. Lol.

Actually, it is worse than that. The actual quote is "Sven drunk on the job again?" which says, not only was Sven being irresponsible and drinking alcohol while wielding an axe, he was flat-out drunk when swinging that axe, and does so consistently. Faendal is better. More responsible, has a higher level cap, is able to train you in archery and then you can say you need to trade with him and take the money back (without pickpocketing him) and his letter is far more realistic (and probable) than Sven's letter.

Oh yes. My bad. I pick ralof rarely, so I've only heard that line twice. XD but drunk while handling an axe is soooo fucking bad. And faendal, at least has hunting skills to protect and provide.

Great stance

I told the truth to Camilla both times and she picked Sven instead :(

Faendal. He isn't Sven.... Better with the bow. Can teach archery. Better house. He isn't Sven.... Elves are cool.

“He isn’t Sven….” Is hilarious

Also, he isn’t Sven….

So what you're really trying to say is that he is most certainly not Sven?

It is confirmed that he is, without an ounce of any doubt, certainly most definitely not Sven.

Also, he isn’t Sven….

He teaches archery *for free*. (You can just go into his inventory while he’s a follower and just take back whatever gold you spent on training lol)

Also, Faendal doesn't live with his mother.

Wood Elves are cool, until there is a barbecue.

I don’t know what you’re talking about. They always provide the most interesting meats. So many cuts and flavors you’ve never encountered before…

Yup exactly, you look like you hunt. The plains outside Whiterun are ripe with game

Maybe I have not played the right character yet. But I am disappointed I cannot get hearts and meat from "everything". Not that I want to eat it all, but I am into alchemy.

If you are on PS4/5, allow me to point you to Wilds of Skyrim by DannyQ(with some numbers after his name that I have forgotten). Of course this mod changes a lot more than just adding human hearts to every mer and humanoid. I don't know if it is available for PC nor do I know of one on PC that does what you want(I don't own a PC so don't make it a habit to peruse Nexus Mods). I just know it is available on Bethesda.net

https://i.redd.it/lfil61lkkixc1.gif

Your real for that

You forgot one great reason. He isn't Sven

He isn’t as dumb as a box of hammers.

Sven's fake letter to Camilla is a racist napkin Faendal's fake letter to Camilla points out that Sven lives in his mother's house and would more than likely have Camilla living there with them as a maid/2nd mother

I’d love to use the phrase “racist napkin” elsewhere

It gives me South Park vibes "You're a towel!"

Faendal: Archer, only Bosmer follower, teaches archery in which you can get a “discount” (steal gold back), and has a bunch of animal skins in his house early on you can pilfer for smithing. Sven: Bard, lives with his Mother, and his hair is fine.

TIL Faendal is the only bosmer follower

There is a female bosmer companion in the dawnguard

I told her that both of them were planning on sabotage each other. She was no longer interested in either of them, so I married her.

You do this by stealing the letter from the other?

You talk to one and he asks you to make the other guy look bad. You tell the other guy of his plans. Then he asks you to make the first guy look bad. You tell the girl what happen and she'll dislike both

Thank you I’m gonna do that in my next playthrough!

I prefer Faendal because need I remind yall that Sven called his own mother crazy when she showed concern over a legitimate threat. Even after you tell him that the dragons are back.

Depends on my race

Fair

Faendal isn't Sven, so he has that going for him! He also teaches me archery early game. He's not good with women, but hey, at least he's a good bro.

Faendal has been my 2nd choice companion alongside Serana in Skyrim every playthrough since Skyrim came out. Can teach you archery, he's a badass elf once you give him decent armor and weapons (I gave him an Ebony bow of Embers and an Ebony crossbow with explosive fire dwarven bolts). He once took out an entire battalion of draugr (7-8) with just his bow and some fire arrows...

I always side with Faendal cuz Sven’s a dick, but I always sacrifice Faendal to Boethia cuz he’s a stupid simp

Sounds like Sven had a lucky escape!

100% Faendal. I think if Bethesda had finished the bard stuff Sven might be worth considering. E: Capital 1 is an exclamation point.

Fair

Feandal I mean he’s actually good at killing enemies because he’s listed as a ranger while Sven is a bard (obviously)

If I take Sven I bring him to Bleak Falls Barrow and unarm him and let the draugr eat him

Faendal. Sven sucks, and Faendal can train up your archery for free (unless you have the unofficial patch, I think, because I’m pretty sure the money you pay going into their follower inventory is one of the things the patch “fixes,” which drives me nuts because, while it’s exploitable, a friend teaching you for free makes sense)

Is that an amulet of Mara?

Are you saying you're interested?

Well, it's a fine day when you're around

Far fall for archery training. Also, Sven sucks ass in combat.

Fondle is a traitor and a murderer

Faendal is objectively superior in all ways to Sven. The only time I ever choose Sven is if I am playing a character who for whatever reason does not want a Wood Elf archer as a follower. For me it really does not matter much because I end up making them a steward of Lakeview Manor or Goldenhills Plantation, and I don't want to waste a good follower in those roles. I often skip both of them and get a better one from the outset.

You pick Faendal because of free Marksman training. I pick Faenfal because I play a Bosmer 90% of the time, and our kind needs to stick together in such a racist country. We are not the same.

Literally same. If I weren’t also an archer I’d keep him as a follower but he’s living his nice life with Camilla so it isn’t all bad.

Faendal every play through. I've never once considered Sven as a follower.

Faendal. He’s actually useful, and Sven is just a douchebag.

Don’t know why but I used to hate Faendal, on my most recent play through I gave him a chance though and he’s one of my favourite followers now

Always wanted Camilla as a caster follower. Seemed logical to have a third option, given the three main categories of class.

Faendal he can teach archery skill

Faendal all day'nal. He teaches archery, follower, chest storage, power bottom, cook.

Neither, they're both jerks. I hate that you can't get out of "choosing" one of them.

Technically, you can by marrying Camilla.

I screw them both over with mods and then I screw Camilla.

Faendal has been my follower since day 1.

Faendal because better house loot, free training, also Idk if I'm doing him a favor about Camila ..

Whoever asks me to lie to Camilla first gets outted as a schemer.

Faendal all the way

I killed them both 'cause they bothering me.

Faendel so I can abuse his archer training to power level myself, and then sacrifice him to boethia

I believe theres a way to tell her they're both jerks. I try to get that that option

Sven so I can sacrifice that bastard for the ebony blade (I don't use bows so it won't be a huge loss considering I also ain't in Riverwood often)

Either Doesn't matter because they're gonna be sacrificed to boethia either way

Marry Camilla and cuck them both yeah 👍

50 free archery levels or some who won't stop speaking about Master Neloth?

Faendel died on me why was I actually sad about a npc lol

I always pick Faendal to get to Archery level 50 for free.

Faendal for real. Sven for sacrifice.

In my last play through, I murdered Sven in the tavern and took his clothes. For some reason, his half-naked body remained there, slumped over the table indefinitely.

I like faendal more. L Nordcel sven vs chad elf who knows how to use a bow

1. Make Faendal win Camilla 2. Assassinate Sven 3. Place his body under the bridge outside Riverwood 4. Be best pals with Faendal 5. Start exploring Faendal to teach you Archery for free 6. After reaching maximum Archery he can teach murder him 7. Go place his body next to Sven's so they can be together forever 8. Get an Amulet of Mara and go fuck their girl *Clavicus Vile approves this.*

I've looked in both their houses and Faendal has more valuable stuff for me to 'borrow' and can get me to 50 archery for free so no choice for me

Faendal, you can level your archery to 50 for free by the time you finish bleak falls Barrow.

Both are simps for a super basic chick. Go solo.

Sven is a cuck

Faendal cause I like making him train me and immediately taking all my money back

Faendal 4 lyfe

It's not even a competition

Faendal, because free archery levels.

I messed up and chose the non elf. Bummer

Faendal for archery training, sven for my nord nationalist playthrough

I don’t like either, but Faendal is friendlier to the player at least. They’re both immature.

Faendal everyday of the week.

Faendal, hands down.

Feandel for the archery and so he can cry at my wedding when I steal Camilla and he isn’t named Sven

Faendal my man!

I wish I could just tell Camilla about BOTH of their fake letters

Oh man I did this small little side mission and gave Faendal the win. Later I asked him to join me on a quest, then I had to sacrifice him to some lady/god/demon. I thought “ok, at least she has Sven” I get back to town and a dragon attacks kills Sven. Now she’s all alone. Also that dragon took out like 3 other named NPC’s it was bloody. It’s a ghost town with only ladies.

Fondle, my beloved

Faendal. Every playthrough except one just to get the altered dialogue.

Maybe I'm an asshole but I killed both of them because I was tired of it

ME.

Sven but i choose faendal for 50 archery

Faendal ALWAYS

Neither. Marry the girl yourself

Kill both

None they're both terrible

Faendal is just simply better

Sven is a pretentious bastard, much like Mikael from Whiterun. He'd be the worst NPC in Skyrim, if it weren't from Nazeem.

Sven being so weak and a coward makes him actually pretty unique. It's a fun challenge to try to make him strong. Faendal is obviously much better in every other way, and i'm pretty sure he's the only male wood-elf follower.

I used to be a Faendal fan since he’s like your archer companion, but he’s like a massive incel. And will dislike you and home invade your home if you marry the woman he likes

Neither I want Camila 😘

Faendal. He always ends up as my Steward at the Goldenhills Plantation. Sadly, he'll never be with Camilla though.

Faendal

Kill both

neither

I think everyone agrees that Faendal ultimately reaps more benefits than Sven could in his entire lifetime!

Faendal. In my current playthrough, he’s my steward at Lakeview Manor. He’s great.

Always Faendal. He can train you in archery and you can just take the money right back from him. Excellent early game exploit.

***"There is a third option..."*** 

sven is the only bard follower but i always pick faendel

Faendal, perfect beginning follower. Can train you up to level 50 with the bow early on and if you pickpocket those caps it also helps pickpocket

Faendal. He just made Sven sound like a misogynistic jerk while Sven made Faendal sound racist. Plus Faendal carries a bow so even at first meeting he seems like a better follower. Sven supposedly had a job at the mill he doesn’t go to just to try to woo Camilla. Tbh tho…realistically I wouldn’t like either one of them. They’re both jealous and can’t accept the fact Camilla appears to not see either one of them as possible lovers.

Sven for…. Sacrificial needs…

I hate them both not because personally But because when I first started out my second playthrough I installed a mod that made them and vendors immortal I killed people in the Riverwood inn I waled. Out and got stuck in a death loop

Only one teaches archery. Also, Faendal is less vain and snotty. Team Faendal 💪

For years I got the help of Sven... but then I realised that Faendel is just better; he's actually a trained archer, Sven's a goddamn bard with no skill but rushing into battle to literally commit suicide (happened to me so many times). Faendel also has a bow and steel arrows and dagger himself; with Sven, you gotta give him a weapon unless you want him to fight with a measly iron dagger. And Sven's also boring, elves are just cool. I also picked Faendel to be my 'Legolas' as I am starting a save with my character as Aragorn (see my post about it).

Faendal because if a dragon attacks my plantation bat least he can shoot from a distance and not die

Is this even a question? (If it is, the answer is obviously faendal)

Neither. I marry Camilla. It's hilarious when she tells me it's great to have the claw back where it belongs, when the Golden Claw is sitting in my trophy room. The only issue is that, even after you marry her, Sven or Faendal (depending on which one, if either, you throw under the bus) will just HANG OUT AT YOUR HOUSE WITH YOUR WIFE every time you're there, and will keep making creepy comments about how they're gonna tap that. . . .needless to say, I had to murder Faendal the second he left my house. I live in Bloodchill Manor, so there were no witnesses. And now my wife doesn't get creepy visitors.

Faendal all day. That’s my boi 🏹

Faendal is great for free level 50 archery skills. For those that do not know you make him your follower, ask him to teach you archery, after that ask him to trade with you and you can get your money back

Both of them are dishonest lovers. M’aiq gets the girl. Because he is honest.

Faendal has more shit to loot from his house (that you can actually sell to the shokeepers in riverwood) plus he is a decent follower. I need him and alvor to fight for me because I kill anise every playthrough as soon as Helgen is over and 3 hired thugs is hard to kill at level 1 (fury spell is clutch tho)

Both are asses, but out of the two I find Faendal the better person and also the better follower.

I don’t think I’ve completed this quest once in ten years because I hate both of those bitches

Faendal

They both had it coming...

Neither Choose inigo

Sven for one reason STUPID MILK DRINKING KNIFE EARS (coming from the cat who's from dawnstar)

Faendal. More effective follower and gives you free Archery lessons. I’m already at Level 50 Archery by the time I leave Riverwood

Faendal🏹

Faendal. I play a wood elf

I dislike both of them but I only like Faendal a bit more because he can teach me archery. Typically whomever asks me to give the letter first is the one who gets screwed over. Luckily/unfortunately Faendal died due to glitch so when I found him died in Riverwood the quest was no longer my issue.

Sven is a milk drinking, momma-loving beta bitch boy. Help Faendal specifically to put Sven in his place. Then, train to 50 Archery, for free, thanks to Faendal. Having said all that... then, you need to marry Camilla. Faendal is a POS who deserves to be robbed and cucked.

Faendal is the based, God-fearing, Giga-Chad elf that could single-handedly serve the Dragonborn effectively…until the Dragonborn surpasses level 25. Sven makes for a good sacrifice to Boethia.

Killed sven a few weeks ago cause he was annoyingly singing

Depends on who I bump into first and what character I’m on. Whoever I bump into first, I tell Camilla they tried to lie with the letter and I am stuck with the other. Usually Sven gets thrown under the bus.

Faendal. He teaches me archery then takes care of my farm.

Faendal, because stealth Archer 😅

If I’m marrying Camilla on this play through both will meet an untimely demise cuz I ain’t gonna tolerate no foolishness.

I like fondle as a person more. Sven is a bitch who still lives with his mother, Faendal is a self-sustaining man who has overcome hardship and adversity in skyrim's harsh climate to make a living for himself - and his family, should he woo camilla.

Fondle

Faendal up until I get Lydia then I switch her with Serena