Consider us a little gun shy. April Fools' Day has taken on a particularly prominent role in the lives of the gaming industry, with publishers, developers, and members of the gaming press competing to out-do one another for the best fake stories. That's why I was a little suspicious when I saw that Bethesda had chosen today to release six new screens from the upcoming Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim online. After checking them out, however, I can assure you that these are the real deal.

There are only six of them, but I'm not complaining. In one, our adventurer faces off against at least three ice wraiths. Let's hope that his weapon is enchanted, because that glass dagger isn't likely to do much damage to those creatures otherwise. Another image shows a stealth kill, with a dramatic twist — either he's whirled his opponent around to face him as he plunges his weapon into his unsuspecting prey or he charged toward his foe, concealed by darkness, skill, or some magical enhancement.

Check out the screens below, and visit our Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim hub for tons more exclusive information on the game. Skyrim is due out November 11 on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.