The most likely choices of the Dovakhiin according to lore

[ZackyZombify]

That's what they're supposed to do. Not specify. Because if they did, people would be like "what my character wasn't that race." Which it most likely wasn't. Idk what you can't understand by the default character. It's not a hard concept. The default character is the character that Bethesda uses for it's pictures and trailers. If ES was a book, the player would be characterized that race and sex. Because it's the default character.

[Marelo]

Yes, I understand what the word "default" means. What I'm arguing is that "default" and "canon" are not the same, and that the canon details are, usually, indeterminate. There is a reason that Bethesda attempts to preserve the ambiguity, and I highly doubt it's just to keep people from whining. That's all.

Edit: In other words, the "most likely" race for a player character is whatever you want it to be because it doesn't matter to the overall, longterm canon. These characters, their origins, and their motivations are supposed to be shrouded in mystery. So the insistence that the default is the most appropriate or likely canon strikes me as silly. It's like trying to argue about the ending of Inception when the real answer is just that there is no real answer.

And I apologize for getting a little more heated about this than I should have. I read a lot of things in haste and replied in haste, mostly because this is an aspect of the series I happen to really enjoy.

[Pilaf The Defiler]

To be honest, it seems to me that the ideal Dragonborn would have allowed the Treaty of High Hrothgar to stand.

I'm sure the way Bethesda handles this in TES 6 will be to mention both Ulfric and Tullius ended up dead shortly before or after Alduin's demise, and both armies are severely depleted, ending the hostilities more out of necessity than an ideological compromise. Maybe Alduin dying caused another Dragon Break that altered time. He is literally the son of the Dragon god of time after all.

[AngryNord]

If we are counting game data as lore then the CoC was named Bendu Olo. Which he wasn't in my game and most likely wasn't in yours.

He was (is) in mine

[A4 Paper]

In canon they did everything.

[Raven rock hero]

Personally I feel that each of the TES games from Morrowind to Skyrim focus on presenting the culture and history of its province. I have played as a dunmer in morrowind, an imperial in Oblivion and a Nord in Skyrim, simply because it makes sense. I will surely play as a Argonian or a Kahtjiit in an eventual future TES game that will take place in Argonia (black march) or elsweyr. I just cant imagine walking the 7 thousand steps to High Hrothgar as an Argonian or kathjiit, to recieve the same blessing as old Tiber did. Or fight alongside 3 of the greatest nord heroes in sovengarde against Alduin. And since we talked about proof or TES lore confirming what race to play, I think this is pretty reveling: At the end of the quest, before Tsun sends the Dragonborn back to Skyrim, he says, "Perhaps one day we will meet again, and I will bid you join the feasting." He says this regardless of the Dragonborn's race, even though Sovngarde is reserved for Nords. Anyway the meaning of roleplay is to find the way that makes the game as awesome as possible for yourself, so dont misunderstand me

[Witchery]

In canon they did everything.

In canon someone does everything the Dovahkiin is able to do in-game. The only thing canon about the Dovahkiin is the main quest and the Dragonborn DLC. Everything else is a mystery.

[CBR JGWRR]

And Dawnguard on vampire side, judging from Bethesda's images.

[I_am_one]

For my last playthrough, I had my character join the Civil War first. Once he got to the point where the main quest was forced on him, I had him finish the Battle for Whiterun, then go to High Hrothgar to fulfill prophecy. I figured that would make most sense, since Ulfric, being a proud Nord, would gladly let the Dovakhiin do his own thing.

[Raven rock hero]

I will let the graybeard peach truce stand, and not involve the dragonborn in politics or war. The paarthurnax blades issue annoyes me though. I can understand that Delphine doesnt know better than to kill him, but Esbern should with his knowledge understand that parthnx was the one who granted humans the ability to use the voice via Kynareth, and that he had no choice which side to pick during the dragon war. anyone who have arguments for killing parth?

[Travalanche]

I will let the graybeard peach truce stand, and not involve the dragonborn in politics or war. The paarthurnax blades issue annoyes me though. I can understand that Delphine doesnt know better than to kill him, but Esbern should with his knowledge understand that parthnx was the one who granted humans the ability to use the voice via Kynareth, and that he had no choice which side to pick during the dragon war. anyone who have arguments for killing parth?

Nope, Paarthurnax died because I hate having unfinished journal entries.

[CBR JGWRR]

Nope, Paarthurnax died because I hate having unfinished journal entries.

^ About the best reason to do it...

[Michael]

I will let the graybeard peach truce stand, and not involve the dragonborn in politics or war. The paarthurnax blades issue annoyes me though. I can understand that Delphine doesnt know better than to kill him, but Esbern should with his knowledge understand that parthnx was the one who granted humans the ability to use the voice via Kynareth, and that he had no choice which side to pick during the dragon war. anyone who have arguments for killing parth?

Dovahkiin Laat should marry Elisif. He (or she) saved the world after all, so Skyrim should be the reward.

For now. Give the country and its people some time to rest and breath, then go for the Thalmor.


On Paarthurnax, one should never forget who made him strong, or at least helped him to become mighty. So there is absolutely no valid reason to kill Paarthurnax.

[Raven rock hero]

Were do you get the name Bendu Olo from?

[AngryNord]

The Oblivion Construction set - it is the default name given to the player character there

[Belthazor]

So then it's set. The Dovahkiin will forever be known as: Prisoner!

[Raven rock hero]

The dlcs confuses me though.. what is most likely for the dragonborn to do in dawnguard? become a vampire lord, or destroy the vampires.. It worries me that bethesda pictures the dragonborn as a vampire in the trailer but does that make it offical ?, and in which order sounds most correct to do the dlcs? makes no sense for a vampire lord to travel to solstheim to help the locals against Miraak..

[philfredobob]

maybe the Dragonborn wont even take part in the Dawnguard and Vampire struggle.

thats what i always thought this guy was for : http://uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Agmaer

[Raven rock hero]

Yeah that sounds like a good story actually.. the young farmboy, who only learned to use his pa`s axe, would rise as a vampire hunter to destroy lord Harkon, and prevent the ending of the sun. But since vampires will start attacking villages , aswell as Durak will show up and start the quest, it seems imposible for the dragonborn not to intervene

[philfredobob]

The Dragonborn could be in Solstheim at the time, or trapped in a dungeon, or in Sovngarde, or busy in Blackreach, or in any number of situations where he is too busy to be able to join a side in Dawnguard.


the Dragonborn isnt necessarily a hero either. im not saying hes a villain, but he could just simply fulfill his destiny with Alduin and thats it, stop adventuring.

basicly, anythings possible.

[Dark Spark]

The way I'd land it, you can join in the civil war after you learn the Dragonrend shout and send Alduin scampering off with a bloodied lip.

[SuperNull]

Notice there is a difference in how the Beth marketing department and the game makers did things.
If you ignore the marketing and just look at the game itself, the dovakhiin in a blank slate.

In the marketing promo's, the player is a male nord who prefers iron gear and a 1h sword. Marketing was especially successful in making that iron helmet a recognizable icon.
On the boxart, in the lore and the game itself however, there is no ''default dragonborn". Sure, there is a default in the character creation screen but that has to default to SOMETHING.

[DikaSmausha]

Yeah that sounds like a good story actually.. the young farmboy, who only learned to use his pa`s axe, would rise as a vampire hunter to destroy lord Harkon, and prevent the ending of the sun. But since vampires will start attacking villages , aswell as Durak will show up and start the quest, it seems imposible for the dragonborn not to intervene

This sounds like the plot to the Abe Lincoln movie.

[Redguard OfTheEmpire]

I don't think we have a thread for this right now. I'm sure a mod will shoot me down if i'm wrong and send me there, but anyway

What side do you think the 'Canon' (Nord IMO) Dragonborn would've taken?
What did your Dragonborn characters do, and what was their reasoning?

(...oh and please let this not become another Empire vs Stormcloaks debate, i want this to stay Dragonborn and MQ-focused.)

I would think that they (he IMO) would be either:
-Neutral, but leaning toward the Empire side. (Because of knowledge that each dead soldier is strengthening Alduin)
or
-Empire side. I just find it highly unlikely that Dragonborn would be zealous enough to join the rebellion, especially considering the relationship he would have with the Jarl of Whiterun. Balgruff is our Jauffre, and is the first Jarl we meet in the MQ. His impression upon the player is as a wise and compassionate leader, sending troops to Riverwood despite any possible political implications and expending resources to investigate the dragon threat, as opposed to some other Jarls. Also, he makes the Dragonborn his thane, regardless of any civil war affiliation, and sets him on his way to High Hrothgar.
When i tried to roleplay a Stormcloak i just couldn't do it when it came to fighting him. And i think that's exactly how they DB would feel.
Balgruff becomes a mentor to the DB and i just believe that the Dragonborn would be a similar type of person. A true Nord.

Many cite Talos as a reason for the DB going Stormcloak, and although i disagree with this i won't go into it for reasons mentioned above

[Nord85]

Well, as the Nords seem to give much respect to loyalty, I think your reasoning is quite good. I think the question is, is the "canon" Dovahkiin a Skyrim-born Nord, or from e.g. Bruma? Since his dialogue (even if you don't choose the most derpy questions) seems to implicate he's quite ignorant of Skyrim's traditions, it's probable he'd be leaning towards the Empire. Then there's the fact that during the MQ the Dovahkiin finds the Thalmor documents that state how beneficial the ongoing rebellion is for Dominion interests. In this light, joining the Empire to speed up the conclusion of the war would the intelligent choice.

Also, the Nord culture is quite heavily based on IRL Norse/Germanic culture, where the bonds of loyalty were more between a leader's person and the men following him than towards abstract concepts like a nation or country. In a sense this is reflected in-game, where the Stormcloak rebellion is heavily focused on Ulfric's personality and leadership even up to the movement's insignia and name. Therefore, a true Nord IMO would consider himself foremost loyal to Balgruuf who made him the Thane, i.e. as a Thane he's kind of part of Balgruuf's retinue. Of course, there's always room for conflicts of loyalty, but in the "intended" sequence of events the Dragonborn becomes "Balgruuf's man" before he joins anything else and has more reason for gratitude towards him than either the Empire or Ulfric.