Skyrim:Farkas

Farkas is a Nord and member of the Companions. While, as his twin brother Vilkas puts it, "his brains are not his strong suit", Farkas is respected as a skilled warrior. 

He and Vilkas belong to the Companions' inner circle and, as such, are both werewolves.

Farkas appears morally ambivalent about being a werewolf, and is hesitant to use his Beast Form. He can be loose with his tongue, often showing impertinence to his elders. However, he warms up quickly to you when met, and is quick to protect his friends. 

He wears a random set of steel armor and is armed with a Skyforge steel greatsword (or an iron greatsword at lower levels). He also carries a belted tunic and the key to the Whiterun gate.

He offers both miscellaneous quests and master level training in Heavy Armor. During the journey to Ysgramor's Tomb, Farkas will refuse to accompany you past the outer chambers, admitting that he has developed a fear of giant spiders following your initiation trial in the quest Proving Honor.

If you ask who the Companions are, he tells you: ''"The Companions are my family. We fight so that other people don't have to. We bring honor and glory to ourselves and each other."  If asked why he joined, he will say: "Vilkas and I have been here since we were little whelps.  Our father, Jergen, raised us here.  Even Vignar couldn't remember Companions younger than us!" When questioned on what it means to be a Companion, he responds: "I've never been a smart one. But the Companions welcome anyone with the heart of a warrior. When we step into battle, we fight for our own name, and the name of the Companions."  If asked where he stands on the current war, he will state: "Too confusing for me. Empire, Nords, Talos. Who cares? Just tell me who needs bludgeoning." If you ask his opinion on being a werewolf after becoming initiated within the ranks of the Circle, he will answer: "I like being stronger when I become the wolf. But Kodlak says it is bad for the soul, and I trust him."
 
 
Related Quests
Companions Quests



 
Radiant Quests




Miscellaneous Quests



Quest-Related Events
Take Up Arms
After you bring Aela her shield, she will eventually say: "Here, let's have Farkas show you where you'll be resting your head."  Skjor will then shout after Farkas, who will come rushing into the room and participate in the conversation, with different dialogue depending on whether or not you met the Companions at Pelagia Farm.

Farkas: "Did you call me?" 
Aela: "Of course we did, icebrain. Show this new blood where the rest of the whelps sleep." 
Farkas: "New blood? Oh, I remember you. Come on, follow me." OR "New blood? Oh, hello. I'm Farkas. Come on, follow me."

When he walks you to the quarters for the new whelps, he will make the following comments: "Skjor and Aela like to tease me, but they're good people. They challenge us to be our best." "Nice to have a new face around.  It gets boring here sometimes." "I hope we keep you.  This can be a rough life." "The quarters are up here.  Just pick a bed and fall in it when you're tired." "Tilma will keep the place clean.  She always has."''

Once you both arrive at the whelps' quarters, he says: ''"Alright, so here you are. Looks like the others are eager to meet ya. Come to me or Aela if you're looking for work. Once you've made a bit of a name for yourself, Skjor and Vilkas might have things for you to do.  Good luck. Welcome to the Companions. By the way, if you're looking for something to do..."'' This ends Take Up Arms and Farkas offers you one of his radiant quests.

Proving Honor
Skjor assigns you a mission to retrieve a fragment of Wuuthrad from Dustman's Cairn, and Farkas will act as your Shield-Brother and observer.  He also tells you this will be your Trial, the final test for Companion membership.

After speaking with Skjor, you will be directed to Farkas, who will state, ''"I hope you've readied yourself." When you ask if he will be your Shield-Brother, he responds with, "So I'm told.  Let's see if you impress." Farkas will then become your follower, and any follower you have will be dismissed.

The below dialogue options will open up: 
What is Wuuthrad?  "Ysgramor was the hero who started the Companions.  Wuuthrad was his weapon.  He came from the ancient homeland and killed all the elves.  But not all of 'em, because some of 'em are still here." 
Why did Skjor call this my trial?  "I watch you to make sure you're honorable.  If you are honorable and strong, I can call you brother/sister." 
Who was this scholar?   "A smart man came and told us about a blade piece.  Skjor thinks you should find it, and I'm supposed to watch you." 
I'll meet you at Dustman's Cairn.  "Don't delay, Shield-Brother/Sister."''  (dialogue box closes)

Once you enter Dustman's Cairn, Farkas will comment, ''"Looks like someone's been digging here, and recently. Tread lightly." Further in, he will warn you. "Be careful around the burial stones. I don't want to haul you back to Jorrvaskr on my back." 

At some point, the Dragonborn will trap themselves behind a gate and trigger a cutscene.  Farkas will come up to the gate and tease you with, "Now look what you've gotten yourself into. No worries, just sit tight. I'll find a release." then turn around with "What was that?" as five Silver Hand members enter the room.  Soon Farkas is surrounded and being taunted. When one of the Silver Hand members states, "Killing you will make for an excellent story," Farkas responds with "None of you will be alive to tell it."  He will then drop his sword and transform into a werewolf. After killing all the Silver Hand, he leaves the room to open the gate, then comes back in human form again and says, "I hope I didn't scare you."

What was that? "It's a blessing given to some of us. We can be like wild beasts.  Fearsome." 
You're going to make me a werewolf? "Oh, no. Only the Circle have the beastblood. Prove your honor to be a Companion. "Eyes on the prey, not the horizon." We should keep moving. Still the draugr to worry about."

If you ask Farkas who the Silver Hand are, he will say, "Bad people who don't like werewolves.  So they don't like us either."  If you ask about the Companions being werewolves, he will explain, "Not everyone, but all the Circle are.  It's a secret to everybody."''

At the closing of the Quest, when you and Farkas have recovered the fragment of Wuuthrad from Dustman's Cairn and returned to Jorrvaskr, Vilkas will tell you to stand before the Circle for judgement. Once you have done so, Kodlak will start off: 
Kodlak: "Brothers and Sisters of the Circle, today we welcome a new soul into our mortal fold. This man/woman has endured, has challenged and has showed his/her valor. Who will speak for him/her?" 
Farkas: "I stand witness for the courage of the soul before us." 
Kodlak: "Would you raise your shield in his/her defense?" 
Farkas: "I would stand at his/her back, that the world might never overtake us." 
Kodlak: "And would you raise your sword in his/her honor?" 
Farkas: "It stands ready to meet the blood of his/her foes." 
Kodlak: "And would you raise a mug in his/her name?" 
Farkas: "I would lead the song of triumph as our mead hall reveled in his/her stories." 
Kodlak: "Then this judgment of this Circle is complete. His/her heart beats with fury and courage that have united the Companions since the days of the distant green summers. Let it beat with ours, so the mountains may echo and our enemies may tremble at the call." 
Everyone: "It shall be so."

Glory of the Dead
During this quest, the remaining Circle members have a discussion in the Underforge about Kodlak's final wishes.  Farkas only speaks once during this debate, stating, "Kodlak did not care for vengeance." The Circle eventually agrees to head to Ysgramor's Tomb to cure Kodlak's lycanthropy so he can ascend to Sovngarde. 

When you come across a spider den in the tomb, Farkas tells you, ''"I can't go any further, Shield-Brother/Sister." When you ask what is the matter, he admits, "Ever since Dustman's Cairn, the big crawly ones have been too much for me.  Everyone has his weakness, and this one is mine.  I'm not proud, but I will stay back with Vilkas.  Give my regards to Ysgramor." He then leaves the Dragonborn and Aela to finish the quest on their own.

After Glory of the Dead, the Dragonborn can speak to him again for more radiant quests. Eventually, he will offer the quests Purity and Dragon Seekers.

Conversations
You can overhear Farkas talking to the other Companions. He and Athis compare their fighting style.
:Athis: "You might do well to learn a new weapon. Vary your style a bit."
:Farkas: "Tiny blades don't hurt enough. A sword needs weight."
:Athis: "But ten little cuts..."
:Farkas: "All I need is one to cut you in half."
:Athis: "Well, when you put it that way..."

:Farkas: "You only use the little swords."
:Athis: "It's called a shortsword, oaf. It's quicker. Sharper. Like a razorfish against a whale."
:Farkas: "But whales eat razorfish."
:Athis: "And they always come to regret it."''

Notes
Farkas means "wolf" in Hungarian.
Farkas is in the faction  . This makes him chase you on sight when you have a high bounty in any given hold.
 
 
Farkas has an unused dialogue choice where he can be asked "What's it like being a werewolf?" and he would reply ''"I think there are some things that... oh, wait. Are you trying to trick me? You are not a full-blood yet. We can't talk about that."''

Bugs
 
 
 
 
This occurs after taking only one or a few Glenmoril Witches' heads during the Blood's Honor quest (or not keeping the heads). Fix: Acquire at least four heads total (one to give to quest-giver Kodlak Whitemane, and one each for Farkas and Vilkas later, and one to keep in inventory when talking to them). If Blood's Honor is already complete, you can return to Glenmoril Coven for more heads. With at least two heads in inventory, save just before speaking again to Farkas or Vilkas; he will take a head, but you need two still in inventory if you need to talk to the other as well to get around the same dialogue problem.  This will make the Purity quest available, and the NPC(s) should give you radiant quests normally after it is complete. See  for more technical details.
 
 
Regaining a small bounty (even a 0 value bounty) and then paying it off with a guard may fix this. Unless you have an unused Whiterun Thane pardon, a cheap and fast way to do this from Jorrvaskr with no other consequences is to walk to the Whiterun market-stall plaza and steal a vegetable from a cart in front of witnesses.
  This can be corrected by entering the following console command: paycrimegold 0 0.