Five Hundred Companions Five Hundred Companions , often simply called the Five Hundred or Companions , were a group of Atmoran warriors led by the legendary Ysgramor in the late Merethic Era . The Five Hundred Companions were an army who played a vital role during events of the time period known as the Return . They were fierce warriors who came from Atmora . Their goal was to avenge the brothers and sisters who fell victims of elves during their raid known as Night of Tears . History . Merethic Era . Arrival to Tamriel . During the Merethic Era , a group of Atmorans , led by Ysgramor , left their homeland called Atmora and sailed to Tamriel due to the presence of a civil war in Atmora . They sailed south and eventually landed at Hsaarik Head at the northern tip of Broken Cape . They moved inland and soon built the legendary city Saarthal . They befriended the local Snow Elves , and made peace and prosperity with them . At some point , the Snow Elves launched an assault upon Saarthal , in which they sacked it and killed everyone there , with the exception of Ysgramor and his two sons , Yngol and Ylgar , who survived and returned to Atmora . Different reports stated different theories as to why the Snow Elves broke the peace with the Atmorans . Some reports suggest that the initial attack on Saarthal was very focused , and did not appear to correlate to any locations that were established as points of defense or importance . Not only did the Snow Elves know the apparent layout of the city , but their assault appeared to be based on a specific directive and perhaps a singular goal . One theory was that the Snow Elves ' motive was to exterminate all of the Atmorans in Skyrim , as the rate at which the Atmoran ' s population was growing was increasing . To the Snow Elves , this would be a potential threat to their existence in Skyrim . Another theory was that the Atmorans discovered a powerful artifacts deep below Saarthal , called the Eye of Magnus , and the Snow Elves coveted it for themselves , so they sacked Saarthal . The Return to Atmora . Ysgramor and his two sons , Yngol and Ylgar returned to Atmora , and after they returned , they told stories of Elven treachery and murders in Saarthal . This inspired men and women of Atmora to raise an army and avenge the fallen , claiming Mereth for themselves . The Return . Day of Final Passage . On the Day of Final Passage the Five Hundred set sail for Mereth using longboats that had been made in their massive shipyards of Jylkurfyk . Due to a massive storm , known as the Storm of Separation , Yngol and his crew were the first of the dead . Return to Skyrim . After arriving at Hsaarik Head , the warriors sought to reclaim and avenge the Saarthal and so they did . Many shields were broken during the battles , but in honor of the fallen Shield - Brothers , the faction kept its name — The Five Hundred Companions . Atmoran - Snow Elf War . After reclaiming Saarthal , the Five Hundred formed the Circle of Captains . It was decided that each Captain should take his own boat and crew make its own way , seeking their fates throughout the world . This began a long period of the slaughter of elves and the grand expansion of Men on Tamriel . The Expansion and Elven slaughter by the Five Hundred ended with the final breath of Ysgramor . It is said to have been seen all over Tamriel as a huge dark storm , and left even the fiercest warriors grieving . Most of the warriors laid down their mighty axes , never to pick them up again . Thus ended the period known as The Return . Fourth Era . After the events of the Return , the remaining Companions lost their grip over Tamriel and most became simple settlers and farmers of the land . Therefore , only remnants of the once great army were present in Skyrim . The Companions had still survived until the Fourth Era . During that time the organization had given up its original name and had become known simply as The Companions . Traditions and goals had changed over time as well . For example , no longer were Companion groups under the control of Captains since sailing and settlement were no longer driving racial concerns . Some of them had also embraced lycanthropy , bestowed upon them by Hircine . Another significant difference was in the motives of the companions : by the Fourth Era the Companions had become more of a mercenary group who hunted beasts and criminals , but not mer . Ranks . Five Hundred Companions were a group who considered that every man should be able to make his own path without guidance of others . There were no rules that bound someone under rule of another . Companions were free to come and go as they wish . The only thing that bound him to his Shield - Brothers and Sisters was his honor . As a result , there were not so many ranks within the army . Harbinger . The Harbinger was considered to be the main commander of the army . During the time of The Return this role was taken by Ysgramor . Companions followed his commands and listened to his advice but he did not command the army with an iron fist , and men followed him by their own free will . The Harbingers ' s role shrank significantly after the assembly of the Circle of Captains . No other Harbingers were considered rulers among the Companions after the death of Ysgramor . Captain . Captains were commanders of longboats and their crews . After the reclaiming of Saarthal and of Skyrim and the destruction of the Snow Elves , the Circle of Captains was assembled to decide what the Five Hundred should do next . It was decided that every crew and its captain should make their own way and split up . Like the Harbinger , a captain did not have an iron - fisted rule over his men and they followed him freely . As more and more Atmorans migrated from Atmora to Skyrim , Companions settled , sailing decreased in importance and so longboats were no longer needed . Thus the rank of Captain was lost . However the rank of Harbinger and the tradition of the Circle remained . Shield - Brothers and Sisters . Shield - Brothers or Sisters weren ' t actually a rank in the Five Hundred Companions . However , it was a common phrase to add to one ' s name . It meant that that they would watch each other ' s back in battle and won ' t hesitate to fight for each other . This phrase is still commonly used among Nord s as a sign of trust among warriors . Huntmaster . Similar to the quartermaster and blacksmith , the huntmaster was a revered hunter who would lead younger Shield - Brothers on game hunts to hone their skills . The official title and role , however , disappeared by the end of the Second Era . Notable members . Darumzu crew : Crew of the Jorrvaskr : Crew of the Krillot Lok : Crew of the Fallowfire :