Essential Characters (Skyrim)

Essential characters are NPCs that, at some point during in , cannot be killed in any way whatsoever. If their health is depleted, they fall to one knee, shortly recovering completely. Followers lie somewhat in this category, whereas they can only be killed if the Dragonborn is the one to deliver the final blow or if they are repeatedly attacked in this downed state. In addition, essential characters are unable to be pickpocketed of some equipped weapons, or any equipped items.
Similarly, some characters are listed as "Protected." This means they can be killed, but only by the Dragonborn; not by followers or enemies.
There are many characters vital to the progression of quests, and if killed, would effectively render large portions of the game completely broken. To safeguard against this, certain characters are marked as "essential" by the game. Some characters lose this essential flag after their crucial role is fulfilled; these actors then become "unessential" and can be killed.
==Compass Rose==
Yes 	This character temporarily cannot be killed.
No 	This character can be killed at any time.
Always	This character can never be killed.
==Cities==
===Whiterun===
Name 	Marked as unessential (if applicable) 	Can be follower
Aela the Huntress 	End of "Glory of the Dead." 	Yes
Alik'r Prisoner 	 	
Amaund Motierre 	End of "To Kill an Empire." 	No
Avulstein Gray-Mane 	 	
Balgruuf the Greater	 	No
Commander Caius 	 	No
Farkas 	If "Glory of the Dead" is complete and Vilkas is still alive. If Vilkas has been killed (post-"Glory of the Dead"), then the quest "Purity" must be completed. Farkas and Vilkas are unique in that the essential status of one can change based on the death of the other.	Yes
Hrongar 	 	
Irileth 	 	
Kodlak Whitemane 	During "Blood's Honor." 	
Mallus Maccius 	 	
Olava the Feeble 	 	No
Olfrid Battle-Born 	 	
Proventus Avenicci 	 	No
Skjor 	During "The Silver Hand." 	
Sabjorn 	 	
Sinmir 	 	
Vignar Gray-Mane 	 	
Vilkas 	If "Glory of the Dead" is complete and Farkas is alive. If Farkas has been killed (post-"Glory of the Dead"), then the quest "Purity" must be completed. Farkas and Vilkas are unique in that the essential status of one can change based on the death of the other. 	Yes
Ysolda 	End of "A Night to Remember"* 	
===Solitude===
Name 	Marked as unessential (if applicable)	Can be follower
Ahtar 	After Roggvir's execution. 	Yes
Beirand 	 	
Bolgeir Bearclaw 	 	
Bryling 	After "Bound Until Death" 	
Captain Aldis 	After Roggvir's execution 	
Dervenin 	 	
Dorian 	 	
Elisif the Fair 	 	No
Erikur 	After the Civil War questline 	
Falk Firebeard 	 	
General Tullius 	During "Battle for Solitude." 	
Gianna 	 	
Gisli 	 	
Gulum-Ei 	During "Scoundrel's Folly" 	
Jaree-Ra 	During "Lights Out!" 	No
Legate Adventus Caesennius	 	
Legate Rikke 	During "Battle for Solitude." 	
Noster Eagle-Eye 	 	
Sabine Nytte 	 	
Varnius Junius 	 	
Viarmo 	 	
Vittoria Vici 	During "Bound Until Death." 	
===Riften===
Name 	Marked as unessential (if applicable) 	Can be follower
Anuriel 	 	
Asgeir Snow-Shod 	During "Bound Until Death." 	
Bersi Honey-Hand 	 	
Brynjolf 	After "Under New Management" 	Temporary
Delvin Mallory 	 	
Esbern 	 	Temporary
Haelga 	After collecting her debt first. 	
Hemming Black-Briar	 	
Keerava 	After collecting her debt first. 	
Laila Law-Giver 	 	
Louis Letrush 	After "Promises to Keep," but currently bugged.	
Maramal 	 	
Maul 	 	
Mercer Frey 	During "Blindsighted." 	Temporary
Mjoll the Lioness 	 	Always
Maven Black-Briar 	 	
Talen-Jei 	After collecting his debt first. 	
Tonilia 	 	
Unmid Snow-Shod 	 	
Vekel the Man 	 	
Vex 	 	
===Windhelm===
Name 	Marked as unessential (if applicable) 	Can be follower
Aventus Aretino 	 	No
Brunwulf Free-Winter	 	
Calixto Corrium 	End of "Blood on the Ice." 	
Galmar Stone-Fist 	End of "Battle for Windhelm." 	Temporary
Jorleif 	 	
Niranye 	During Summerset Shadows. 	
Rolff Stone-Fist 	 	
Torsten Cruel-Sea 	 	
Tova Shatter-Shield 	After "Mourning Never Comes," only if Nilsine is killed.	
Ulfric Stormcloak 	End of "Battle for Windhelm." 	
===Markarth===
Name 	Marked as unessential (if applicable)	Can be follower
Anton Virane 	During "Recipe for Disaster." 	
Brother Verulus 	During "The Taste of Death." 	Yes
Calcelmo 	 	
Eltrys 	End of "The Forsworn Conspiracy" 	
Endon 	 	
Faleen 	 	
Jarl Igmund 	 	
Muiri 	After "Mourning Never Comes." 	
Nepos the Nose 	During "The Forsworn Conspiracy." 	
Raerek 	 	
Reburrus Quintilius 	 	
Thonar Silver-Blood 	After "No One Escapes Cidhna Mine." 	
Thongvor Silver-Blood	 	
Vigilant Tyranus 	During "The House of Horrors." 	
Yngvar the Singer 	 	
===Falkreath===
Name 	Marked as unessential (if applicable)	Can be follower
Dengeir of Stuhn	 	
Jarl Siddgeir 	 	
Legate Skulnar 	 	
Nenya 	 	
Sinding 	During "Ill Met by Moonlight." 	
Tekla 	 	
Zaria 	 	
===Dawnstar===
Name 	Marked as unessential (if applicable)	Can be follower
Brina Merilis 	 	
Erandur 	During "Waking Nightmare." 	Yes
Frorkmar Banner-Torn	 	
Horik Halfhand 	 	
Jod 	 	
Skald the Elder 	 	
===Morthal (Skyrim)===
Name 	Marked as unessential (if applicable) 	Can be follower
Aslfur 	 	
Falion 	 	
Idgrod Ravencrone 	 	
Idgrod the Younger 	 	
Joric 	 	
Legate Taurinus Duilis	 	
Sorli the Builder 	 	
Thonnir 	After "Laid to Rest" is completed (some of the mob will die if Thonnir is not spoken to about going alone)	Temporary
===Winterhold===
Name 	Marked as unessential (if applicable)	Can be follower
Korir 	 	
Kraldar 	 	
Malur Seloth	 	
Nelacar 	 	
Thaena 	 	
Thonjolf 	 	
==College of Winterhold==
Name 	Marked as unessential (if applicable)	Can be follower
Ancano 	During "The Eye of Magnus." 	
Arniel Gane 	 	
Augur of Dunlain	 	
Colette Marence 	 	
Drevis Neloren 	 	
Enthir 	 	
Faralda 	 	
Mirabelle Ervine	 	
Phinis Gestor 	 	
Savos Aren 	During "The Eye of Magnus." 	
Tolfdir 	 	Temporary
Urag gro-Shub 	 	
==Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary==
Name 	Marked as unessential (if applicable) 	Can be follower
Arnbjorn 	During "Death Incarnate" or "Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!"	
Astrid 	During "With Friends Like These..." or "Death Incarnate." 	No
Babette 	 	
Cicero 	During "The Cure for Madness." 	Yes
Festus Krex	During "Death Incarnate" or "Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!"	
Nazir 	During "Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!" 	
Veezara 	During "Death Incarnate" or "Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!"	
==Imperial Legion==
Name 	Marked as unessential (if applicable)	Can be follower
Hadvar 	 	Temporary
Legate Emmanuel Admand	 	
Legate Fasendil 	 	
Legate Hrollod 	 	
Legate Quentin Cipius 	 	
Legate Sevan Telendas 	 	
==Stormcloaks==
Name 	Marked as unessential (if applicable)	Can be follower
Arrald Frozen-Heart 	 	
Gonnar Oath-Giver 	 	
Kottir Red-Shoal 	 	
Ralof 	 	Temporary
Thorygg Sun-Killer 	 	
Yrsarald Thrice-Pierced	 	
==Other Locations==
Name 	Location 	Marked as unessential (if applicable) 	Can be follower
Annekke Crag-Jumper 	Darkwater Crossing 	 	After completing her (radiant) quest "Kill the Bandit Leader"
Arngeir 	High Hrothgar 	 	
Avrusa Sarethi 	Sarethi Farm 	 	
Balagog gro-Nolob 	Nightgate Inn 	During "Recipe for Disaster" 	No
Barbas 	Outside Falkreath 	End of "A Daedra's Best Friend" 	Temporary
Borri 	High Hrothgar 	 	
Chief Yamarz 	Largashbur 	End of "The Cursed Tribe" 	Temporary
Commander Maro 	Dragon Bridge 	During "Hail Sithis!" 	
Curwe 	Loreius Farm 	After "Delayed Burial" 	
Deeja 	Red Wave 	During "Lights Out!" 	No
Delphine 	Riverwood 	 	Temporary
Derkeethus 	 	Bethesda forgot to remove his essential status 	Always (bug)
Einarth 	High Hrothgar 	 	
Elenwen 	Thalmor Embassy 	After "Diplomatic Immunity" or "Season Unending"	
Felldir the Old 	Sovngarde 	 	Temporary
Gelebros 	College of Winterhold	 	
Gormlaith Golden-Hilt	Sovngarde 	 	Temporary
Hakon One-Eye 	Sovngarde 	 	Temporary
Karliah 	Snow Veil Sanctum 	 	Temporary
M'aiq the Liar 	Random locations 	 	
Nerien 	Mzulft 	 	
Odahviing 	Anywhere outdoors 	 	
Paarthurnax 	Throat of the World 	During "Paarthurnax" 	No
Pactur 	Stonehills 	 	
Quaranir 	College of Winterhold	 	
Razelan 	Thalmor Embassy 	 	
Ri'saad 	Various locations 	 	
Sabine Nytte 	Red Wave 	 	
Sam Guevenne 	Various locations 	 	
Sanguine 	Morvunskar 	 	
Sheogorath 	Blue Palace 	 	No
Tandil 	College of Winterhold	 	
Teeba-Ei 	Rockwallow Mine 	 	
Torygg 	Sovngarde 	 	
Tsun 	Sovngarde 	 	
Vantus Loreius 	Loreius Farm 	After "Delayed Burial" 	
Wilhelm 	Ivarstead 	 	
Wulfgar 	High Hrothgar 	 	
*Only becomes unessential if Update 1.4 or lower is installed.
==Dawnguard==
===Castle Volkihar===
Name 	Marked as unessential (if applicable)	Can be follower
Serana 	 	Yes
Lord Harkon 	During "Kindred Judgment." 	
Vingalmo 	If Dawnguard is joined. 	
Orthjolf 	If Dawnguard is joined. 	
Feran Sadri 	If Dawnguard is joined. 	
Fura Bloodmouth	If Dawnguard is joined. 	
Garan Marethi 	If Dawnguard is joined. 	
Valerica 	 	
===Fort Dawnguard===
Name 	Marked as unessential (if applicable)	Can be follower
Isran 	During "Destroying the Dawnguard" 	
Sorine Jurard 	During "Destroying the Dawnguard" 	
Gunmar 	During "Destroying the Dawnguard" 	
Florentius Baenius	During "Destroying the Dawnguard" 	
===Riften===
Name 	Marked as unessential (if applicable)	Can be follower
Galathil	 	
==Dragonborn==
===Raven Rock===
Name 	Marked as unessential (if applicable)	Can be follower
Adril Arano 	 	
Lleril Morvayn 	 	
Cindiri Arano 	 	
Captain Veleth 	 	
Glover Mallory 	 	
Milore Ienth 	 	
Crescius Caerellius	 	
Geldis Sadri 	 	
Drovas Relvi 	 	
Mogrul 	During "A New Debt" 	
Vendil Severin 	During "Served Cold" 	
Mirri Severin 	During "Served Cold" 	
Tilisu Severin 	During "Served Cold" 	
===Skaal Village===
Name 	Marked as unessential (if applicable)	Can be follower
Frea 	 	Yes
Storn Crag-Strider	During "The Gardener of Men" 	
Aeta 	 	
Baldor Iron-Shaper	 	
Oslaf 	After "At the Summit of Apocrypha" 	
Nikulas 	 	
Morwen 	 	
===Tel Mithryn===
Name 	Marked as unessential (if applicable)	Can be follower
Neloth 	 	Temporary
Talvas Fathryon	After "From the Ashes" 	Yes
Varona Nelas 	During "Reluctant Steward" 	
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