The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition - Characters
The main cast of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition: the player's Dragonborn, the dragons and their allies, the Blades and Greybeards who guide the prophecy, the leaders on both sides of the civil war, the heads of the joinable factions, and the central figures of the Dawnguard and Drag...
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of 20 entries
· updated 2026-09-15
| Name | Description | Role | Faction | Abilities | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Dragonborn | The player-created prisoner of Helgen who survives Alduin's attack and is revealed to carry the soul of a dragon. | Protagonist | None (player character) | Dragon Shouts (Thu'um) Absorb dragon souls Learn words of power from Word Walls Invest in any of the eighteen skill trees | Created by the player at the start of the game |
| Alduin the World-Eater | The firstborn of Akatosh and the dragon foretold to devour the world. | Main Antagonist | Dragons | Resurrect slain dragons Fire Breath and Meteor Storm shouts Dragonrend immunity (broken by the Dragonrend shout) Domination of dragon-kind | Alduin's Bane at the Throat of the World; final battle in Sovngarde |
| Paarthurnax | An ancient dragon who overcame his own nature and taught the Thu'um to the first human tongues, then withdrew to the Throat of the World. | Mentor | Greybeards | Fire Breath shout Mastery of the Way of the Voice Ancient knowledge of Alduin | Throat of the World, reached through High Hrothgar |
| Arngeir | The only Greybeard who still speaks, acting as the order's voice at High Hrothgar. | Mentor | Greybeards | Mastery of shouts Teaching words of power Telekinesis-grade Voice control | High Hrothgar |
| Delphine | The last surviving Blades agent in Skyrim, hiding as the innkeeper of the Sleeping Giant Inn in Riverwood. | Ally | Blades | Blades swordsmanship Espionage and contacts across Skyrim Ancient Akaviri knowledge | Recruited during the main quest; later at Sky Haven Temple |
| Esbern | The Blades' loremaster, living in hiding in the Ratway beneath Riften. | Ally | Blades | Dragonlore and Akaviri history Restoration magic Blades combat training | Rescued from the Ratway during A Cornered Rat |
| Ulfric Stormcloak | Jarl of Windhelm and leader of the Stormcloak rebellion, whose shouting of Torygg to death triggered the civil war. | Ally and Antagonist | Stormcloaks | Unrelenting Force shout Two-handed swordsmanship Rallying the eastern holds | Palace of the Kings, Windhelm |
| General Tullius | The Empire's military governor of Skyrim, commanding the Imperial Legion from Castle Dour in Solitude. | Ally and Antagonist | Imperial Legion | Imperial legion command Military strategy Sword and shield combat | Castle Dour, Solitude |
| Elenwen | First Emissary of the Aldmeri Dominion in Skyrim, hosting the parties at the Thalmor Embassy where the main quest's espionage set piece takes place. | Antagonist | Thalmor | Diplomatic authority Thalmor intelligence network Destruction magic | Thalmor Embassy, northwest of Solitude |
| Jarl Balgruuf the Greater | Jarl of Whiterun, the first ruler to take the dragon threat seriously. | Ally | Whiterun Hold | Hold leadership Political neutrality Command of the Whiterun guard | Dragonsreach, Whiterun |
| Kodlak Whitemane | Harbinger of the Companions and the moral centre of Jorrvaskr, who seeks a cure for the beast blood that runs through the circle. | Mentor | Companions | Companions leadership Two-handed weapon mastery Expert smithing | Jorrvaskr, Whiterun |
| Astrid | Leader of the Dark Brotherhood sanctuary beneath Falkreath, she brings the Dragonborn into the family after the player kills Grelod the Kind. | Ally and Antagonist | Dark Brotherhood | Assassination Dagger combat Sanctuary leadership | Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary, Falkreath |
| Brynjolf | The Thieves Guild recruiter operating in Riften's market, who brings the Dragonborn into the Ragged Flagon and drives the guild's campaign to restore its influence through the influence quests and the Nightingale storyline. | Ally | Thieves Guild | Lockpicking and pickpocketing Guild contacts and fencing One-handed combat | Riften marketplace; Ragged Flagon |
| Savos Aren | Arch-Mage of the College of Winterhold and a Dunmer who carries the guilt of the expedition that sealed the Psijic ruins beneath the college. | Mentor | College of Winterhold | Master conjuration and destruction magic College leadership Magical warding | Hall of the Elements, College of Winterhold |
| Maven Black-Briar | The matriarch of Riften's wealthiest family, whose mead business, Thieves Guild ties and political influence make her the de facto ruler of the city. | Supporting | Black-Briar Family | Political manipulation Guild and criminal contacts Blackmail | Black-Briar Manor, Riften |
| Serana | A Daughter of Coldharbour, ancient pure-blood vampire, and Lord Harkon's daughter, sealed in Dimhollow Crypt with an Elder Scroll. | Ally | Volkihar Clan (reluctantly) | Vampiric drain Necromancy and reanimation Immunity to sunlight (Ancient Blood) Expert destruction magic | Awakening of the Dawnguard questline at Dimhollow Crypt |
| Lord Harkon | The ancient vampire lord who rules Castle Volkihar and sacrificed his wife and daughter to Molag Bal. | Antagonist | Volkihar Clan | Vampire Lord form Blood magic and summoning Immortal regeneration | Castle Volkihar, Sea of Ghosts |
| Isran | A former Vigil of Stendarr who rebuilds the Dawnguard at Fort Dawnguard after a vampire attack on the Hall of the Vigilant. | Ally | Dawnguard | Vampire hunting Dawnguard leadership Heavy armour and restoration magic | Fort Dawnguard, Dayspring Canyon |
| Miraak | The first Dragonborn, who once served the dragon cult before defecting and learning Dragonrend-grade power from Hermaeus Mora in Apocrypha. | Antagonist | Hermaeus Mora (formerly Dragon Cult) | Bend Will shout Dragon Aspect shout Drain dragon souls Apocrypha knowledge and tentacle magic | Solstheim; final confrontation in Apocrypha |
| Frea | A Skaal shaman and daughter of Storn Crag-Strider on Solstheim. | Ally | Skaal | Shamanic magic One-handed combat Skaal lore of the All-Maker | Skaal Village, northern Solstheim |
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