The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition - Factions
The joinable guilds, political powers and hidden orders of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition, from the four main faction questlines and the Greybeards and Blades of the dragon prophecy to the civil war armies, the Thalmor, and the vampire and hunter orders introduced by Dawnguard.
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of 14 entries
· updated 2026-09-15
| Name | Type | Description | Region | Points Of Interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Companions | Joinable Guild | Skyrim's oldest warrior guild, descended from the Five Hundred Companions of Ysgramor and run from the mead hall of Jorrvaskr. | Jorrvaskr, Whiterun | Kodlak Whitemane, the Harbinger The Circle and the Underforge Wuuthrad and the fragments quest Ysgramor's Tomb and the cure for lycanthropy The Silver Hand as the antagonist faction |
| College of Winterhold | Joinable Guild | The province's only school of magic, standing on a spire of rock above the ruined capital and distrusted by the Nords who blame it for the Great Collapse. | Winterhold | Savos Aren and the Hall of the Elements The Arcanaeum library Saarthal excavation and the Psijic Order The Midden and its forbidden experiments The final confrontation with Ancano |
| Thieves Guild | Joinable Guild | A struggling criminal guild reduced to a handful of members in the Ratway, working the influence jobs that restore its standing in the four major cities. | The Ragged Flagon, Riften | Brynjolf and Delvin Mallory The Ragged Flagon cistern Influence jobs in Whiterun, Windhelm, Markarth and Solitude Mercer Frey and the Skeleton Key The Twilight Sepulcher and Nocturnal |
| Dark Brotherhood | Joinable Guild | The province's assassin cult, worshipping the Night Mother and the Dread Father Sithis. | Sanctuary near Falkreath | Astrid and the Falkreath Sanctuary The Night Mother and the Listener Cicero and the Dawnstar Sanctuary The Penitus Oculatus raid and the Betrayal Shadowmere and the Blade of Woe |
| The Blades | Antagonist-aligned Order | The dragon-hunting order founded by Reman Cyrodiil and bound to the Dragonborn, shattered by the Thalmor's Great War and reduced to Delphine and Esbern. | Sky Haven Temple, the Reach | Delphine and Esbern Sky Haven Temple and the Akaviri Blood Seal Alduin's Wall Recruiting replacement Blades members The Paarthurnax dilemma |
| The Greybeards | Monastic Order | Four silent masters who follow the Way of the Voice and live in isolation on Skyrim's highest mountain, speaking only to summon the Dragonborn. | High Hrothgar, Throat of the World | Arngeir, the order's voice The trials of the Voice The Horn of Jurgen Windcaller Paarthurnax on the Throat of the World The 7,000 Steps and the frost trolls |
| Stormcloaks | Civil War Faction | Ulfric Stormcloak's rebel army, fighting to throw the Empire and the Thalmor out of Skyrim and restore Talos worship. | Windhelm and eastern Skyrim | Ulfric Stormcloak and Galmar Stone-Fist The liberation of the eight holds The Battle for Solitude as the final push Stormcloak camps across the province Tensions with the Imperial Legion and the Thalmor |
| Imperial Legion | Civil War Faction | The Empire's army in Skyrim under General Tullius, holding the province for the Emperor and enforcing the White-Gold Concordat signed after the Great War. | Solitude and the Empire's garrisons | General Tullius and Castle Dour Legate Rikke The defense of Whiterun against dragon-borne assault The Battle for Windhelm as the final push Legion camps and forts across the province |
| The Thalmor | Occupying Power | The Aldmeri Dominion's agents in Skyrim, enforcing the ban on Talos worship and quietly searching for anything that could give the Dominion an advantage over the Empire. | Thalmor Embassy and their travelling patrols | Elenwen and the Thalmor Embassy The Justiciar patrols and the Northwatch Keep prison A Diplomatic Immunity as the infiltration quest Files on the Dragonborn in the embassy basement Open hostility from both Stormcloaks and Legion |
| The Dawnguard | Expansion Faction | An ancient order of vampire hunters rebuilt by Isran after the Hall of the Vigilant is wiped out. | Fort Dawnguard, Dayspring Canyon | Isran and Fort Dawnguard Sorine Jurard and crossbow development Gunmar and the troll-skin curing side quest The rescue of Serana and the choice at Castle Volkihar The final assault on the castle |
| Volkihar Clan | Expansion Faction | An ancient court of pureblood vampires ruled by Lord Harkon and spared the worst of the vampire curse. | Castle Volkihar, Sea of Ghosts | Lord Harkon and the Volkihar court The Bloodstone Chalice and the prophecy of the Tyranny of the Sun Garan Marethi, Feran Sadri and Hestla The hunt for the moth priests' Elder Scroll The final choice between Serana's and Harkon's plans |
| The Forsworn | Antagonist Faction | Reachmen rebels who reject Nord rule over the Reach and wage a guerrilla war from the crags around Markarth. | The Reach | Madanach and Cidhna Mine The conspiracy within Markarth's court Forsworn camps and redoubts Hagravens and Briarhearts in their ranks Common cause with the Reachmen of the Reach |
| Bards College | Joinable Guild | Solitude's school of music and history, the smallest of Skyrim's official institutions. | Solitude | Viarmo, the headmaster The burning of King Olaf festival Pantea's Flute, Finn's Lute and Rjorn's Drum Speech and crafting training The Bards College library |
| The Nightingales | Hidden Order | Nocturnal's three mortal agents, sworn to guard the Twilight Sepulcher and recover the Skeleton Key. | Twilight Sepulcher and the Thieves Guild | The Twilight Sepulcher and Nocturnal's shrine Nightingale Hall and the three Nightingale armours Mercer Frey's betrayal of the order Gallus, Karliah and the return of the Skeleton Key Nightingale Blade, Bow and the Nightingale powers |
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