then I took an arrow to the knee 

to plan on doing something, having done something, or did something, only to get shot in the knee by an arrow.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim's version of Stop right there criminal scum!

1. I used to be an adventurer like you. Then I took an arrow to the knee.

2. I used to have severe acne. Then I took an arrow to the knee.

then I took an arrow to the knee by HighKingTorygg December 4, 2011

Then I took an arrow to the knee 

A popular internet meme which has derived from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, in which town guardsmen will often say to the player "I used to be an adventurer like you, then I took an arrow to the knee".

The meme is often used as a response in forum posts or YouTube comments, particularly to people thinking of past events in their life.

Guy 1: "Look at my new Gamecube!"
Guy 2: "Yeah I used to have one of those"
Guy 1: "...Then I took an arrow to the knee"

Or as a way of expressing the fact that Skyrim is the game to be playing right now. For example:

YouTube comment from 2008 - "GTA IV is the best game ever! I'm gonna play it forever!"
Reply to the comment from 2011 - "Then I took an arrow to the knee."

Then I took an arrow to the knee by Someone you don't need to know January 11, 2012

then I took an arrow to the knee 

To get married forever under God's contract

I used to be happy.. but then I took an arrow to the knee.

then I took an arrow to the knee by Calixtoman March 12, 2016

I used to be an adventurer just like you, then I took an arrow to the knee 

The most overly used phrase in gaming history. From the game Skyrim.

Guard: I used to be an adventurer just like you, then I took an arrow to the knee.

Player: LOL

I used to be an adventurer just like you, then I took an arrow to the knee by I'mAddictedToUrbanDictionary March 22, 2013

But then I took an arrow to the knee 

the universal excuse for why you didn't do something. A.K.A the most common youtube comment.

Girl: Did you go to the store today.
Guy: I was going to, but then I took an arrow to the knee.

But then I took an arrow to the knee by Spongebob1 June 18, 2012