It’s been nearly a decade since Skyrim’s release, but the game still stands out from the crowd in its genre. Players new to Skyrim, or even the Elder Scrolls series altogether, might not be clear on just what their player character is, and the significance of “the last Dragonborn” in relation to the history and world of Tamriel.
The last Dragonborn obviously has no set race or gender (though promotional Skyrim material portrayed the Dragonborn as a male Nord) because it’s up to the player, but there’s still plenty of Dragonborn lore to cover. For those unfamiliar with the legend of the Dragonborn, here’s a handy overview that covers all the important bases.
The Prophecy
The coming of the Last Dragonborn was prophecized long before their actual arrival, that prophecy immortalized by the Elder Scrolls. That prophecy reads as follows:
A good deal of that prophecy refers to events that occurred in Tamriel prior to the timeline of Skyrim, including events that those who played the fourth Elder Scrolls game, Oblivion, would have experienced. There’s also Alduin’s Wall, the ancient edifice found in Skyhaven Temple during the events of Skyrim. It foretells the return of Alduin the World-Eater, the Nordic god of destruction, and an individual who could stop him. Right on queue, Alduin returns after centuries of absence.
When misrule takes its place at the eight corners of the world
When the Brass Tower walks and Time is reshaped
When the thrice-blessed fail and the Red Tower trembles
When the Dragonborn Ruler loses his throne, and the White Tower falls
When the Snow Tower lies sundered, kingless, bleeding
The World-Eater wakes, and the Wheel turns upon the Last Dragonborn.
Background
Dragonborn as a whole, and particularly the Last Dragonborn, are special because of their ability to devour a slain dragon’s soul and absorb its power, instantaneously learning Words of Power. Dragonborn are essentially said to be mortals born with the soul of a dragon, and thus have an innate understanding of dragon language, the Thu’um, that no other mortal does–a gift bestowed upon a scarce few favored by Akatosh. In the Thu’um, the Dragonborn is known as “dovahkiin.”
In the Dragon language, dovahkiin is a combination of two words: “dovah,” meaning “dragon,” and “kiin,” meaning “child,” meaning the literal translation of the title is “dragon-child.” However, the term can even be parsed further; technically, “dov” is the word that refers to dragon-kind, while “ah” specifically means “hunter.” Thus, the dovahkiin is actually a “born hunter of dragon-kind.”
Dragonborn are incredibly rare, and despite their draconic souls, dovahkiin can be any race and have complete free will, capable of serving any of the Nine Divines or Daedric Princes or otherwise deigning not to devote themselves to any divine patron. With that mortal body and free will come the pitfalls of being such; dovahkiin are just as susceptible to old age, death, and disease as any other mortal. The prophecy states that the Last Dragonborn is destined to kill Alduin, and sure enough, their paths first cross in 4E 201 when the Dragonborn is mistakenly taken prisoner by the Imperial army alongside a contingent of Stormcloak soldiers.
While not much is ever established throughout Skyrim about the Dragonborn’s past, players are given the option of answering a couple of questions during the game. During the Skyrim quest “No One Escapes Cidhna Mine,” players can claim to either have a family out there somewhere or not. Then, when conversing with Serana during the Dawnguard DLC questline, the Dragonborn can comment on their relationship with their family, and possibly on their fate as well. Furthermore, all player characters begin the game with basic destruction and restoration spells, suggesting the Dragonborn studied magic in some capacity before arriving in Skyrim.
History
As the title “Last Dragonborn” suggests, there’s a long history that precedes the player character of Skyrim. The first Dragonborn known to history is Miraak, a Dragon Priest who lived in the Merethic Era and managed to preserve himself throughout the ages in the realm of Daedric Prince Hermaeus Mora. He’s the antagonist of the Dragonborn DLC when he attempts to make his return to Tamriel and dispose of the Last Dragonborn, though Miraak is ultimately defeated by the Last Dragonborn and killed by Hermaeus Mora.
Tiber Septim, the founder of the Septim Dynasty of Tamriel, was also considered Dragonborn. He and all of his heirs were recognized as such throughout the ages, until the untimely death of Martin Septim during the Oblivion Crisis ended his lineage for good. Those who play Oblivion will witness this themselves, befriending and assisting Martin Septim until he sacrifices himself to save Tamriel.
After his death, Dragonborn were thought to have died out entirely. None appear in the years following until the Last Dragonborn finally makes their grand, fiery Skyrim entrance in 4E 201.
Skyrim is available to play now.
