Naming 100% Of These Skyrim Characters Is Practically Impossible
- by Evan_Bell
- – on
- in The Geek Corner
In 2011, game-giant Bethesda released one of the most iconic sandbox games of all time: 'Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim'. The game was an immediate success, selling 3.4 million copies in the first 48 hours of its release. Despite the ten-time game of the year winner being seven years old now, 'Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim' remains one of the most popular games amongst diehard gamers due to the hundreds of hours of gameplay it offers, in addition to the limitless possibilities offered through mods. Throughout the game, players come across an insane 343 different locations and interact with hundreds of iconic characters. While many of the characters have quests for players and offer detailed dialogue options, many others tend to repeat the same several dialogue options. Phrases like, "I used to be an adventurer like you, but then I took an arrow to the knee" quickly became popular memes as players collectively rolled their eyes at guards. While some non-playable characters (NPCs) are rather forgettable, others have continued to grace Tamriel with their presence, providing longtime series players a bit of an inside joke whenever they stumble across a familiar NPC in the open world.
While every 'Elder Scrolls' player takes on the role of the Dragonborn, only a select few diehard players will be able to name all of these characters from 'The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim' and claim the title of Dovahkiin. Take our Skyrim character quiz below to find out who's a true Dovahkiin who has adventured across all of Tamriel or not.
Who is this?
During a mission called 'Missing In Action' the Dragonborn must infiltrate the Northwatch Keep in order to rescue the above-pictured character from the Thalmor. After the rescue mission, the Dragonborn must pass along a message to this character's mother in Whiterun. After completing the quest and rescuing this character, he can be found in Windhelm where he assists the Stormcloak Rebellion in Skyrim. If you chose to help the Stormcloak's reclaim Skyrim from the Imperials, he can also be found storming Fort Amol. Can you name him?
Who is this?
This character has appeared in 'The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion' as well as 'The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim'. In addition, he appeared in 'The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall' in 1996. Skyrim players, however, may remember him for challenging the Dragonborn to a drinking competition before then taking players on an adventure causing mischief across Skyrim. After completing the mission, this Daedric Prince gives the Dragonborn a staff which summons a Daedric conjuration to fight for the Dragonborn for 60 seconds.
Who is this?
This talking dog greets the Dragonborn outside of Falkreath, where he asks for help locating his 'master'. Those who accept the quest will be taken on an interesting adventure, where they learn that the dog is actually the Daedric Prince of Bargains, who has taken on the form of a dog. He has appeared in Elder Scrolls: II, IV, and V, and in addition, he can be used as a follower of the Dragonborn, and is a worthy ally in combat.
Who is this?
This Daedric Prince of Bargains is one of the seventeen Daedric princes and makes his initial appearance in 'Skyrim' in the form of Barbas the talking dog, who he most commonly takes on the form of. Upon completing his quest, players receive one of the most unique helms in the game, which offers players a boost to their speech skills. He has appeared in all but the first Elder Scrolls game and is voiced by Elder Scrolls voice-acting staple Stephen Russell.
Who is this?
This Nord can be found in Dawnstar, where players can pick up a replayable quest where they can exchange Fine-Cut Void Salts for gold. While he is incapable of being a follower, his crew members don't mince words in regards to their opinion of him as they will repeat several lines regarding their issues with his young age given his role as captain of a ship, however, he is determined to prove them wrong. Can you name this ship captain?
Who is this?
This Dark Elf is a key character in the Dragonborn's travels and briefly serves as the Arch-Mage of the College of Winterhold, where players can hone their magical abilities. While players have limited interactions with the Arch-Mage, upon completing the College of Winterhold quest line, they will be rewarded with his armor. Prior to serving as the Arch-Mage, he was one of the apprentices who ventured to explore Labyrinthian, and the only one to escape alive. Can you name this powerful mage?
Who is this?
This Nord is one of the first NPCs the Dragonborn comes in contact with upon reaching Riverwood. If the character followed the Stormcloak prisoner Ralof, this lumberjack becomes a friend and will allow the Dragonborn to take items from he and his wife. Despite having limited dialogue options, this character plays a key role for players who install the 'Hearthfire' downloadable content, providing them with much-needed wood to build and furnish their own custom house. Can you name this character?
Who is this?
This character is a staple of the Whiterun market area and can be found selling various types of meat at his market stall. In addition, he is one of the owners of the Drunken Huntsman along with his brother Elrindir. While he is generally a non-aggressive NPC, should the Dragonborn end up joining the Dark Brotherhood, this character's name will eventually come up on an a contract, and the player can off him for some gold. Do you remember his name?
Who is this?
This NPC is the evil headmistress of the Honorhall Orphanage in Riften. The Dragonborn initially learns of this character after being contacted by Aventus Aretino to off her as part of a Dark Brotherhood contract. That quest also serves as the player's introduction to the Dark Brotherhood. In a surprising turn of events, if the Dragonborn chooses to complete the assassination contract, the orphans in the orphanage won't report the Dragonborn to guards, allowing the player to escape without a bounty on their head.
Who is this?
This evil Breton causes players quite a bit of trouble while attempting to clear out Skeevers from the tunnels underneath the Honningbrew Meadery. He appears briefly in Skyrim, and doesn't offer players any dialogue options, instead choosing to attack the Dragonborn on sight. Upon looting his body and reading his journal, players learn that he was an apprentice at the College of Winterhold once upon a time, but was kicked out due to "irresponsibility". Do you remember this frustrating mage?
Who is this?
This character will be an easy one to name for players who have explored the 'Dawnguard' downloadable content for Skyrim. This character resurrects the ferocious Vampire-hunting group known as the Dawnguard alongside several of his friends after leaving the Vigilants of Stendarr. Depending on whether players choose to side with the Dawnguard or the Volkihar Vampires, they may or may not meet this character on the field of battle. For our sake, we hope he ended up being on your side.
Who is this?
This Redguard woman can be found at the Bannered Mare in Whiterun after a pair of Alik'r warriors approaches the Dragonborn upon entering the city. Players begin the 'In My Time of Need' quest, and must choose whether to reveal the location of the Redguard woman to the Alik'r warriors or help her escape the city. Players could of course always choose to deliver this character to the Alik'r before then offing the warriors and collecting their gold and loot.
Who is this?
This NPC serves as a merchant with a stall in Solitude, however, players first meet him upon entering the city where he and his daughter can be seen watching the execution of a Stormcloak traitor Roggvir, who turns out to be the brother of this character. This merchant is unique because he is the only one in Skyrim to sell players a woodcutter's axe, which comes in handy when players wind up needing wood for arrows and loses track of theirs.
Who is this?
This NPC serves as a high-ranking Imperial soldier in the city of Whiterun, where non-playable citizens can be heard voicing their disproval for him. Despite that, he manages to play a bit of a key role in the 'Dampened Spirits' quest when he attends a mead-tasting at the Honningbrew Meadery before then arresting Sabjorn, who the Dragonborn sets up by poisoning the vats of Honningbrew Reserve after offing the powerful mage Hamelyn mentioned earlier in this quiz. Do you remember this Imperial?
Who is this?
This Alchemist is a staple of Whiterun, where she owns her own shop and sells various potions and ingredients. While she is a non-aggressive NPC, if the player decides to rob her store she will end up sending mercenaries to teach the Dragonborn a lesson. Despite that, after completing a quest for Whiterun court wizard Farengar Secret-Fire, this character will allow the Dragonborn to take many items from her shop. The real question, however, is whether or not you remember her name?
Who is this?
This character serves as the Harbinger of the Companions, a fierce guild of warriors found in Whiterun in their 'Jorrvaskr' headquarters. This character welcomes the Dragonborn into the guild, which takes the place of the Fighter's Guild found in previous Elder Scrolls games. Upon completing the Companions questline, players receive the title of Harbinger after this character is offed while the Dragonborn and members of the Companions are completing the final mission in the questline. Do you remember his name?
Who is this?
This character has become a bit of an inside joke in the 'Elder Scrolls' community and has appeared in three different 'Elder Scrolls' games, including Morrowind, Oblivion, and of course Skyrim. While he has never offered much in the way of dialogue options, he has continued to spread misinformation throughout Tamriel, and never hesitates to offer his half-truthed opinion on nearly everything in-game. Despite the fact that he has become a bit of a humorous character, he is beloved in the Elder Scrolls community.
Who is this?
This Breton can be found in Whiterun in his general good store where he will frequently inform players that everything in his store is for sale and that if he had a sister he would sell her "in a second". In addition, he offers to buy one of the Dragonborn's relatives from him or her, but then quickly backtracks and claims he is joking. This likely explains why the guards in the city can be overheard calling this character a "little man". Do you remember this sarcastic Breton?
Who is this?
Only certain Skyrim players may have had a positive encounter with this character. If the Dragonborn is playing as any race other than Orc, this character's people may become hostile depending on how the Dragonborn's conversation with the tribe goes. If the Dragonborn isn't an Orc, he or she must complete 'The Forgemaster's Fingers' quest to gain access to the stronghold where this character resides. In addition, she can be used as a follower and provides some much-needed muscle during combat.
Who is this?
This fearless Nord warrior is also a werewolf. Players first meet her while she is helping fight a giant just outside of Whiterun at the beginning of the game. In addition to being a potential follower for players, she is also a potential marriage option for the Dragonborn. What many players may not have learned however is that she can be recruited to join the Blades alongside Delphine and Esbern. Do you remember the name of this fearless Nord werewolf?
Who is this?
This character is most well-known for doubting players claim of being the Dragonborn. Upon returning from capturing your first Dragon soul, this character immediately expresses his doubt in the player being Dragonborn. Depending on whether players chose to side with the Stormcloaks or Imperials in the Skyrim Civil War, this characters place in the Whiterun may be short-lived. If the Stormcloaks take control of the city, he can then be found in exile in Solitude, sitting around in the basement of the Blue Palace.
Who is this?
This stuck-up citizen of Whiterun is generally found taunting players for never traveling to the 'Cloud District'. While a quest may spawn that leads players to beat him up, he may require rescuing after being taken as part of the 'Rescue Mission' quest. Player's shouldn't sweat his attitude, however, because he can also be found in the Whiterun marketplace, taunting and insulting merchants for no apparent reason, which likely explains why despite being married to Ahlam and owning Chillfurrow Farm, he lives at The Drunken Huntsman.
Who is this?
This NPC will be a familiar one for avid Skyrim players. Thanks to the Hearthfire DLC, the Dragonborn can employ a Steward to manage one of the player's three potential custom-built houses. The steward for the house found in The Pale, also known as Heljarchen Hall, can employ this convenient carriage driver to drive the Dragonborn around. What makes this character unique compared to the rest of the carriage drivers found throughout Skyrim is that he will take the Dragonborn to numerous other locations other drivers won't, such as Ivarstead, the Dragon Bridge, and Old Hroldan to name a few. Do you remember his name?
Who is this?
This member of the Companions notably serves as the Dragonborn's 'Shield Brother' during several quests, and can also be recruited as a permanent follower if the Dragonborn wishes. He has a twin brother who also serves the Companions, however according to Skjor this character has Ysgramor's smarts, while his brother has Ysgramor's strength. In addition to being the Dragonborn's 'Shield Brother' he also serves as an inner circle member of the Companions and has the ability to transform into a werewolf.
Who is this?
This Vampire Queen serves as a main character in the 'Dawnguard' questline, playing the role of Serana's estranged mother living under the Volkihar keep. While it is possible to off Lord Harkon and allow this character to return to Volkihar keep, she spends most of her time in the Soul Cairn hiding from her ex-husband. She can be found with two Elder Scrolls, which she gives to the Dragonborn in order to help stop her ex-husband's 'Tyranny of the Sun' prophecy. Who is she?
Who is this?
This Nord woman can be found in Whiterun, where players can pick up a number of random quests, including 'The Whispering Door' and 'Rising at Dawn'. In addition, she can point players to several new questlines, such as 'Take Up Arms' where she informs players that the Companions are taking new members. While this NPC is the co-owner of the Bannered Mare, she is one of the NPCs that can be offed and will not respawn. Do you remember her name?
Who is this?
This blacksmith can be found in Whiterun, and is likely the Dragonborn's go-to shop during the early hours of the game. In addition to buying weapons and armor from this character, players will become extremely familiar with the forge outside of her shop given its convenience in the early portions of the game. Her store, Warmaiden's, comes from her childhood nickname given to her by her father, who serves as Jarl Balgruuf's steward and was featured in question 21 on this quiz.
Who is this?
This Greybeard is one of the most powerful characters in all of Skyrim. He is the only member of the Greybeards to speak throughout the entire game, and is known for teaching the Dragonborn how to use their Thu'um. While he doesn't respawn, it's nearly impossible for players to off this character due to the destructive nature of his Thu'um. He will continue to give players various locations to find Words of Power throughout the game until the Dragonborn has collected them all.
Who is this?
This Nord warrior is immediately confrontational and challenges the Dragonborn to a brawl for 100 gold right in the middle of The Bannered Mare in Whiterun. Upon defeating her, she can become a follower of the Dragonborn and is even a potential marriage option for players. Unfortunately for players, she is not a respawning NPC, and should she pass away during combat, the Dragonborn will receive an inheritance from a courier. With that being said, she is a powerful ally in combat. Do you know her name though?
Who is this?
This notable character makes his first appearance just moments into the game, when players can hear him being informed that the headman is waiting to execute the Dragonborn, along with Ulfric Stormcloak, Ralof, and the horse thief. From there, players will either meet him as an ally or a foe depending on whether they choose to side with the Imperials in the Skyrim Civil War or the Stormcloaks. The real question is, do you remember the name of this Imperial General?
Who is this?
This Dark Elf turns to the Dragonborn for help solving the mystery of the nightmares plaguing the city of Dawnstar, triggering the 'Waking Nightmare' quest if the Dragonborn hasn't already collected the quest from the Jarl of Dawnstar. Upon completion of the quest, this character can either be recruited to join the Blades, or follow the Dragonborn. Despite being a Priest of Mara, this Dark Elf was once a follower of Vaermina, and was even kicked out of the Bards College in Solitude for his affiliation with the Daedric Prince.
Who is this?
This Nord Blacksmith is one of the first NPCs you encounter following the opening mission in Skyrim. Depending on whether or not you sided with Ralof the Stormcloak or Hadvar the Imperial, he may be introduced to you upon visiting Riverwood. From there, he teaches players how to smith at his forge, and may even allow players to loot items from he & his wife's house without reporting them to the local guards. In addition, he is a merchant and provides the Dragonborn with weapons, armor, and ingots. What's his name?
Who is this?
This Nord merchant is found wandering about Whiterun, normally by the marketplace, where she can be overheard informing any other nearby NPCs that she's going to buy The Bannered Mare one day. To get her started, however, she asks the Dragonborn to help her find a Mammoth Tusk, triggering the 'Rare Gifts' quest. In addition to being a potential spouse for players, she also plays a role in several other side quests throughout the game, and can even take over numerous different shops throughout Whiterun if the owners are offed.
Who is this?
This Bard can be found at The Bannered Mare in Whiterun, where he's found playing his lute for a group of travelers around a fire. When he isn't playing the lute, he can generally be found flirting with local women. That flirtatious behavior gets this character in a bit of trouble when Carlotta Valentia offers the Dragonborn a gold reward for getting this character to leave her alone. This character has an extremely high opinion of himself and believes himself to be famous, but do you know his name?
Who is this?
This Nord merchant is also found in Whiterun, and is the husband of one of the female merchants mentioned above. While his wife runs the store outside, and is the face of the business, this character can be found working behind the counter to sell the Dragonborn armor, weapons, and smithing materials. While he appears to be a tough warrior due to his armor and two-handed warhammer, he isn't included in any combat scenes throughout the game. Do you remember his name?