Dragonborns

For the game, see The Elder Scrolls V: Dragonborn.

A **Dragonborn**, (Dragon Language:  **Dovahkiin**, which can mean both "dragon-born" and "dragonkind-hunter-born"), is a rare individual who has been born with the blood and soul of a dragon, but the body of a mortal. They can naturally learn and speak the ancient and powerful tongue of the Dov, called the Thu'um.

Dragonborn scarcely exist, and it is rare for more than one to appear at the same time. They can belong to any race or gender, and the dragon blood (transliterated from  to Dovah Sos) is a gift bestowed to certain mortals favored by Akatosh. Despite their divine souls, Dragonborn possess a mortal free will and may serve as champions for either the Nine Divines or the Daedric Princes. It is unknown if the Daedra claim the souls of their Dragonborn champions as they do with their other servants. Their mortal bodies also subject them to mortal vulnerabilities; old age, death, and disease all affect Dragonborn as they do common mortals.

Some Dragonborn individuals have knowledge of the Thu'um and can consume a slain dragon's soul and absorb its knowledge directly, allowing them to learn Words of Power instantaneously, and then use the power of a slain dragon's soul to unlock that Shout. It is said that the Blades have always guided, protected, and served the Dragonborn, whom they consider "The Ultimate Dragon Slayer." The Greybeards, however, see the Blades as ambitious assassins who seek to mold the Dragonborn into a weapon for their own ends.

## Dragonborn Emperors

*"So long as the Blood of the Dragon runs strong in her rulers, the glory of the Empire shall extend in unbroken years."*
―the liturgy of the Re-Kindling of the Dragonfires
Any subject of the Empire prior to the Fourth Era would say they were ruled by the "Dragonborn Emperors", but very few understood what that title meant. Its usage stretches back to Saint Alessia, who founded the Cyrodilic Empire in a First Era covenant with Akatosh. The Dragon God imbued Alessia's line with blood from his own heart, initiating a sacred compact which kept the Dragonfires lit and Oblivion's influence barred from Mundus, so long as those of the Dragon Blood wore the Amulet of Kings. Ever since, the legitimate rulers of the Empire have been called Dragonborn: Alessia's successors, Reman Cyrodiil and his heirs, and finally the Septim Dynasty. Indeed, the title is particularly associated with Tiber Septim himself, perhaps because he made notable use of the thu'um in his early conquests. Only these true rulers, approved by Akatosh, could wear the Amulet of Kings and light the Dragonfires. In addition, they enjoyed the protection and service of the Blades, descended from the Akaviri Dragonguard, who follow the Dragonborn as "the ultimate dragonslayer." The line of Dragonborn rulers was abruptly severed through assassination at the end of the Third Era, leading to the Oblivion Crisis as the Dragonfires went out. Eventually, the last of the Septim bloodline sacrificed himself and the Amulet to permanently restore the liminal barrier. However the Dragonborn rulers had restored after the Varian Dynasty rose into power, when the fourth monarch Marcella Varian became the first female Dragonborn Empress in her own right after her ancession in 4E 199.

## Dragonborn Heroes

The Dragonborn plays a prominent role in the legends of the Nords of Skyrim, who tell tales of heroes who would "kill dragons and steal their power". It is not known how many Dragonborn have arisen over the course of history. The Greybeards of High Hrothgar warned that many of them met their downfall because the ease with which they learned the thu'um made them arrogant. The Greybeards attempt to inculcate the values of the Way of the Voice, and strongly disapprove of the violent use of thu'um in general, but tolerate it among those who have been blessed by the gods.

With the return of the dragons in 4E 201 came the emergence of the first Dragonborn hero since Tiber Septim to be summoned by the Greybeards for training. In the fulfillment of an ancient Akaviri prophecy, known as the Prophecy of the Dragonborn, this Last Dragonborn named Marcella Varian who learned to master the thu'um, becoming Empress and defeated Alduin.

## Known Dragonborn

* Miraak – Former Dragon Priest dating back to the Merethic Era and purportedly the first Dragonborn individual.
* Alessia – Slave-queen of Cyrodiil in the First Era who made a covenant with Akatosh to create peace in Tamriel.
* Reman Cyrodiil – Famed ruler of Cyrodiil who thwarted the Akaviri Invasion during the First Era.
* Tiber Septim – Legendary ruler and general who united Tamriel under his banner in the Second Era.
* Septim Bloodline – The lineage of Tiber Septim's successors. These include Martin Septim.
* Marcella Varian – First female dragonborn and Empress of Cyrodiil, who to bring peace to Tamriel in the Fourth Era.
* Varian Bloodline – The lineage of Marcella Varian's successors, who bore the Dragon blood.
* Last Dragonborn – Legendary hero of prophecy who appeared in Tamriel during the Fourth Era. Also known as the Dovahkiin, and the last recorded individual to be granted the dragon blood. Renowned for defeating Alduin, as well as Harkon and Miraak.

## Possible Dragonborn

* Mankar Camoran – Altmer leader of the Mythic Dawn. In the first volume of his Commentaries, Mankar is said to be able to "speak with another tongue" and "speak fire." This, coupled with the fact that he could wear the Amulet of Kings on Tamriel, could imply that he was Dragonborn.
* Wulfharth – High King of Skyrim, known as "Ysmir, the Dragon of the North" (a title also bestowed upon Tiber Septim and the Last Dragonborn by the The Greybeards). Alleged to have had a Thu'um so powerful he could not take his oath of office verbally, with many other legendary feats ascribed to his mastery of Shouts. Although often identified as a manifestation of the Shezarrine, he is believed to have been a Dragonborn by Jarl Balgruuf the Greater.

## Trivia

* To address the confusion that arose from the existence of a Dragonborn predating Alessia, Michael Kirkbride, former writer at Bethesda, stated *"Alessia didn't have the power to absorb dragon souls. Hers was a much more nuanced power: to dream of liberty and give it a name and on her deathbed make Covenant with the Aka-Tusk."*
* The Nerevarine was referred to as "Dragon-born" in The Lost Prophecy, but the explanatory notes of this text claim this means they were part of the Empire, which is usually represented by a dragon.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 *The Book of the Dragonborn*
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Dialogue with Arngeir
3. ↑ Dialogue with Delphine
4. ↑ *Trials of St. Alessia*
5. ↑ Generic Imperial Cult dialogue in *The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind*
6. ↑ *The Arcturian Heresy*
7. ↑ Delphine's dialogue in *The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim*
8. ↑ Events of *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion*
9. ↑ *Dynasties: The Varians of Cyrodiil*
10. ↑ *The Varian Dragon*
11. ↑ Whiterun Guard's dialogue in *The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim*
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Events of *The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim*

1. ↑ Bethsoft.com - Michael Kirkbride's forum post