Characters ( Skyrim ) Non - Player Characters or NPCs is a generic term for all characters , other than the Dragonborn , that can be encountered while wandering Skyrim . NPCs are controlled by Radiant Al , a complex system in which NPCs move about the world in a non - scripted , lifelike manner and perform daily tasks including , shopping or hunting for food , going to sleep , smithing , or even going on a mission of assassination . An NPC can come in many shapes and sizes and be any playable race . NPC souls cannot be trapped into ordinary Soul Gems ; only Black Soul Gems or The Black Star can be used . Classes can still be used by NPCs , despite being unable to be picked by the Dragonborn . There are also various Unused Characters which did not make it into the final game . These characters can only be found when using Console Commands . Named characters . Most of the NPCs in Skyrim are named characters . These characters are all listed on different pages under their relevant name . Quest - givers , trainers , merchants , as well as most NPCs in cities and towns are named characters . Some named characters are deemed to be Essential Characters . If these characters are attacked , they will fall to their knees and surrender when they get near zero Health . After a short time , they will rise up with full health , and will reengage the attacker until they are killed or are no longer in their zone . The following is a list pertaining to such NPCs : General characters . There are also many general NPCs in Skyrim , many of which are randomly generated . If they are killed they will become randomly generated again after a certain amount of time . Non hostile NPCs : Hostile NPCs : Note : Falmer , Dragon Priests , and Hagravens are not listed as they do not classify as NPCs . Details about characters . Healing . NPCs can be healed using a spell or a scroll that does restore health on a target , or cured of poison or paralysis . Commanding characters . All of the characters in Skyrim have two different types of FormIDs that can be used in conjunction with console commands : a BaseID and a RefID . Most console commands will accept only one of the two types of IDs : the BaseID is generally used in cases where a new copy of an object would be spawned , whereas the RefID is generally used in cases where interaction is requested for an existing object . Character stats . The behavior of characters is determined by a variety NPC statistics . As can also be seen here Creation Kit Aggression . There are four different levels of an NPCs aggression in conjunction with Faction Relationships , determines when the Actor will initiate combat : 0 : Unaggressive . Will not initiate combat . 1 : Aggressive . Will attack Enemies on sight . 2 : Very Aggressive . Will attack Enemies and Neutrals on sight . 3 : Frenzied . Will attack anyone on sight . Actors are rarely set to Frenzied by default ; this is usually the result of some other spell or effect like the Frenzy spell . Assistance . Governs whether the actor will assist their Friends and Allies in combat : 0 : Helps Nobody . Will not help anyone . 1 : Helps Allies . Will only help Allies . 2 : Helps Friends and Allies . Will help Friends and Allies . Confidence . Governs when the Actor will avoid or flee from threats : 0 : Cowardly . Will always avoid or flee from threats . Cowardly actors NEVER engage in combat under any circumstances . Confidence can never be lower than 0 . 1 : Cautious . Will avoid or flee from threats unless the Actor is stronger than the threat . 2 : Average . Will avoid or flee from threats if outmatched . 3 : Brave . Will avoid or flee from threats only if severely outmatched . 4 : Foolhardy . Will never avoid or flee from anyone . Morality . If this Actor is the Dragonborn ' s Follower , and they order them to commit a crime , Morality determines whether they will comply : 0 : Any Crime . The Actor will commit any crime . 1 : Violence Against Enemies . The Actor will commit Property Crimes , and Violent Crimes when ordered to attack an enemy only . Rarely used . 2 : Property Crime Only . The Actor will commit Property Crimes such as theft , or trespass , but never Violent Crimes . Rarely used . 3 : No Crime . The Actor will refuse to commit any crime .