Last Dragonborn The Last Dragonborn or Laat Dovahkiin ( Dovahzul : " Laat - Dovah - Kiin " , " Last - Dragon - Born " ) , generally referred to as the Dragonborn ( Dovahzul : " Dovah - Kiin " , " Dragon - Born " ) , is the player ' s character and the protagonist of and its expansions , and . Etymology . In Dragon language , " Dovahkiin " is a combination of the words " Dovah , " meaning " dragon , " and " kiin , " meaning " born , " or " child " which is typically translated to " Dragonborn , " but it can also be translated to " Dragonchild . " Dovahkiin also has a second meaning : the " Dov " in " Dovah " refers to Dragonkind as a whole , while the " ah " means " hunter . " Interpreted thus , the name reads " Dragonkind Hunter Born , " or " Born Hunter of Dragonkind , " an appropriate description of what the Dragonborn is destined to do . Something of further interest is that dragons use the term " Dovahkiin " as a proper noun to address or talk about the Dragonborn and the dragon naming convention holds that names consist of three words . When called upon by the Greybeards after killing Mirmulnir , Dov - Ah - Kiin is stressed as three separate words . This could signal that the real translation of " Dov - ah - kiin " is " Born Hunter of Dragonkind , " when the traditional naming convention of dragons is held . Prophecy . The appearance of the Last Dragonborn was prophesied upon Alduin ' s Wall , a large edifice found within Sky Haven Temple . It depicts several events that would preface the return of the Nord ic god of destruction , Alduin . The prophecy itself is dire , but scholars believed that its omens had been fulfilled and that a single individual , gifted with the same powers of the Thu ' um held by the dragons themselves , may rise to fight against Alduin and assure Nirn ' s survival . Alduin finally returned in 4E 201 , during the midst of Skyrim ' s civil war . Raising an army of dragons from the dead , he attempted to resume his path of destruction . However , he was eventually defeated in a battle by the Last Dragonborn and three ancient Nordic heroes in Sovngarde . Background . Much like previous Dragonborn individuals who existed throughout history , such as Reman Cyrodiil , Tiber Septim and Miraak , the Last Dragonborn has the ability to consume a slain dragon ' s soul and absorb its knowledge and power , allowing them to learn words of power almost instantaneously , though reportedly neither Reman nor Tiber have ever killed a dragon and absorbed its soul . It is said that the Blades have always guided , protected , and served the Dragonborn , whom they consider " The Ultimate Dragon Slayer . " At the beginning of , the Dragonborn is a prisoner , captured in an Imperial ambush , which was set up to capture Stormcloaks . While being transported to the settlement of Helgen , the Dragonborn discovers that Ulfric Stormcloak , the leader of the Stormcloak Rebellion , is a fellow prisoner . Upon reaching Helgen , Imperial General Tullius sentences all the prisoners to death , including the Dragonborn , even though they were not on the list of those to be executed . Seconds before the Dragonborn ' s execution , Alduin attacks , providing a chance for escape . Regardless of race , the Dragonborn starts with both flames and healing spells , indicating that they studied the arcane arts before traveling to Skyrim . During the events of the quest " No One Escapes Cidhna Mine , " the Dragonborn can choose to remark on whether they have a family or not . When talking with Serana , the Dragonborn may comment on what type of relationship the Dragonborn had with their parents as well as hinting at their fate . Additionally , Eola may claim that they may have tasted the flesh of a dead sibling when they were young , during the quest " The Taste of Death . " When formally greeting the Last Dragonborn , the Greybeards name them " Ysmir , " Dragon of the North . The same title was held by Tiber Septim , Wulfharth , and supposedly all Dragonborns before that have visited the Greybeards . Appearance . " Skyrim ' s " trailers and concept art depict the Dragonborn as a male Nord with brownish blonde hair and light blue eyes . He wears a studded cuirass , an iron helmet , iron gauntlets , and iron boots . In one trailer , the Dragonborn uses a steel sword and a banded iron shield , while in a screenshot he dual wields a steel sword and a steel dagger . In " Skyrim " , as with all " Elder Scrolls " games , race , gender , appearance , and equipment are left to the player ' s discretion .