Lore:Last Dragonborn

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Last Dragonborn
The Last Dragonborn absorbing the soul of a dragon
Race	Unknown	Gender	Male
Born		Fourth Era
Resided in		Skyrim Solstheim
Appears in		Skyrim Skyrim Pinball Skyrim Very Special Edition Call to Arms

"There's one they fear. In their tongue, he is "Dovahkiin": Dragonborn!" - Esbern

The Last Dragonborn, also simply known as the Dragonborn or Dovahkiin, and referred to as Ysmir, Dragon of the North, is the hero foretold in the ancient Prophecy of the Dragonborn inscribed on Alduin's Wall. In 4E 201, the Dragonborn arrived in Skyrim and, with the assistance of the last of the Blades and the Greybeards, fulfilled his destiny by ending the renewed dragon threat and slaying Alduin the World-Eater. That same year, the Dragonborn also recovered lost Elder Scrolls to end a vampiric plot to permanently blot out the sun, and journeyed to Solstheim to stop the return of Miraak, the First Dragonborn.

History

Background

The Last Dragonborn depicted on Alduin's Wall

The coming of the Last Dragonborn was foretold in the ancient Prophecy of the Dragonborn. Attributed to either ancient Akaviri or the Elder Scrolls, the prophecy concludes with the Last Dragonborn being revealed alongside the return of Alduin the World-Eater, after his defeat in the Merethic Era. The Prophecy was inscribed on Alduin's Wall within Sky Haven Temple, finalised in 1E 2818. The events depicted on the Wall did not begin to form until 3E 389, when Jagar Tharn betrayed then-emperor Uriel Septim VII, starting the Imperial Simulacrum, and finally came to fruition in 4E 201, coinciding with the Skyrim Civil War.

Little is known about the Dragonborn's early life. He was born in the Fourth Era, and resided in Cyrodiil before traveling to Skyrim. He may have had a sibling that he cannibalised after an accident in which they died, which the Dragonborn later blocked out the memory of.

Prophecy of the Dragonborn

On the 15th of Last Seed, 4E 201, the Last Dragonborn was caught illegally crossing the border into Skyrim from Cyrodiil via Darkwater Crossing. There, he was captured by General Tullius and the Imperial Legion in the midst of an ambush on Ulfric Stormcloak and his militia, of which he was falsely assumed to be a member. Initially making tracks toward Cyrodiil, Tulius decided to alter their course to Helgen, where all prisoners, including the Dragonborn, were to be executed.

Shortly after arriving in Helgen on the 17th of Last Seed, Alduin unexpectedly attacked the settlement, destroying it with meteors and fire, allowing the Dragonborn to escape and find his way to safety to Riverwood. After being directed to and speaking with Jarl Balgruuf the Greater of Whiterun, the Dragonborn was sent into Bleak Falls Barrow to retrieve the Dragonstone. Upon returning with the tablet, Jarl Balgruuf received word of a dragon attacking nearby. The Dragonborn was sent to assist in defeating the dragon, and upon killing it, absorbed its soul and shouted for the first time. His destiny as a legendary hero was revealed, and the Greybeards spoke for the first time in centuries to summon the Dragonborn to High Hrothgar.

Upon reaching High Hrothgar and speaking with the Greybeards, the Dragonborn received some training with the Thu'um. As a final test, the Dragonborn was sent to Ustengrav to retrieve the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller. Upon reaching the end of the barrow, the Dragonborn did not find the Horn, but instead a note saying to meet in Riverwood. In the town, the Dragonborn found the person who took the Horn, Delphine, who took him on a hunt to kill the dragon Sahloknir. Defeating the dragon, Delphine stated her concerns about the return of the dragons and revealed herself to be a member of the Blades, the former intelligence agency of the Empire. Returning the Horn to the Greybeards, the Dragonborn was pronounced Ysmir, Dragon of the North, and officially recognized as the Last Dragonborn, hero of prophecy.

The Last Dragonborn approached Delphine once again, who brought him into her plan to infiltrate the Thalmor Embassy during a party. Sneaking through the party with the help of Malborn, the Last Dragonborn found information on a suspected Blade hiding in Skyrim. Delphine is surprised to hear that her old friend Esbern is still alive, and directs the hero to find him in Riften. The Last Dragonborn finds out he is hiding in The Ratway. Fighting off agents of the Thalmor, the Last Dragonborn reunited Esbern with Delphine.

Esbern directs the group to Sky Haven Temple, where they learn of Alduin and the shout used to defeat him long ago. Unable to discover what shout this is, the Last Dragonborn returns to the Greybeards to see if they might know. Despite being concerned about the Blades' influence on the Last Dragonborn, they direct the hero to speak with their leader on the top of the mountain. Upon reaching the top, the Last Dragonborn discovers the leader is not a human, but rather the dragon Paarthurnax. After proving the Dragonborn proves himself to Paarthurnax, the dragon will reveal that he does not know the shout used to defeat Alduin. However, he reveals that in truth, this shout crippled Alduin but did not defeat him. The World-Eater was actually defeated by the use of an Elder Scroll that sent him forward in time. Paarthurnax suggests using the Elder Scroll at the same location, may allow the hero to see through time and witness the shout being used. After tracking down the location of the Elder Scroll with the help of the College of Winterhold, the Last Dragonborn ventures into Blackreach to retrieve it. The hero returned to the throat of the world and peered through the Time Wound, learning the shout Dragonrend. Just then, Alduin himself attacked the Last Dragonborn, but with the help of Paarthurnax and the new shout, Alduin was driven away.

The Last Dragonborn calling Odahviing (Legends)

The Last Dragonborn was then tasked with chasing the World-Eater to defeat him, lest Alduin return from the fight more powerful than before. Alduin's location was unknown, so the hero needed to find a way to trap an ally of the World-Eater. First, a trap needed to be devised, and Jarl Balgruuf was persuaded to allow Dragonsreach in Whiterun to once again be used to house a captive dragon. After learning that dragons can be called since their names are actually Words of Power, the Last Dragonborn was able to call one to him at Dragonsreach. The dragon Odahviing answered the call, seeking to defeat the hero but meanwhile falling into the trap. After a brief battle, the Last Dragonborn was able to drop a beam onto the dragon, pinning him in place. Odahviing revealed that Alduin escaped to Sovngarde, but that the only portal to Sovngarde was in a location inaccessible to any but the dragons. In exchange for freeing Odahviing, the Last Dragonborn convinced the dragon to fly him to the portal. Upon arriving at Skuldafn, the Last Dragonborn fought through numerous undead dragon cultists, several dragons, and even a dragon priest before entering the portal to the Nordic afterlife.

In Sovngarde, the Last Dragonborn made his way through the mist of Alduin's soul snare before coming across the Whalebone Bridge. The dead god Tsun stood guard over the bridge, only allowing the worthy to pass through to the Hall of Valor. After proving his strength in combat against the god, the Last Dragonborn ventured into the Hall of Valor. After speaking with some of the greatest heroes in the history of Skyrim, the Last Dragonborn found the three original heroes that defeated Alduin thousands of years prior. The four heroes ventured into Alduin's soul snare and cleared the mist in order to challenge the World-Eater. Alduin answered the call, and faced the heroes in open combat. Alduin summoned a meteor shower to crash down on the heroes while the Last Dragonborn brought Dragonrend to bear against the Twilight God. After a titanic clash, the World-Eater was finally defeated. In his dying moments, Alduin thrashed about, unable to grasp his defeat, disintegrating into a black and gold skeleton. Curiously, his soul was not absorbed by the Last Dragonborn. The heroes of Sovngarde praised the Last Dragonborn in his victory, before Tsun sent him back to Skyrim. Arriving at the Throat of the World, a large number of dragons proclaimed the death of Alduin and the victory of the Last Dragonborn.

Tyranny of the Sun

At the same time as the Dragon Crisis, rumors began to spread of the Dawnguard, a group of vampire hunters, reforming in their old fort. The Last Dragonborn spoke with the leader of the Dawnguard and joined the cause. The hero was sent to Dimhollow Crypt to investigate what the vampires were seeking. After fighting his way through vampires and skeletons, the Last Dragonborn arrived at a large stone structure that houses a mysterious woman with an Elder Scroll. Upon speaking to her, she revealed her name was Serana, and that she was a vampire. Convincing the Last Dragonborn to spare her life and bring her home, the hero discovered that Serana was the daughter of the powerful Vampire Lord, Lord Harkon, leader of the Volkihar Clan.

From here, legends about the Last Dragonborn diverge. It is unclear if he chose to betray the Dawnguard and join the vampires, or if he remained loyal to the order and was banished from the vampire castle. If the Last Dragonborn sided with the vampires, he was then sent to retrieve the Bloodstone Chalice at Redwater Den. If he had remained loyal to the Dawnguard, he was sent to find a number of Isran's old allies and recruit them into the order. Either way, from Lord Harkon himself or from his daughter Serana, the Last Dragonborn was told of the prophecy of the Tyranny of the Sun, and tasked with finding a Most Priest who could read Serana's Sun Elder Scroll. The Last Dragonborn tracked down one such priest, and ventured into Forebears' Holdout to find Dexion Evicus. After bringing Dexion back to base, he read Serana's Sun Elder Scroll and discovered the importance of Auriel's Bow to the prophecy. However, Dexion revealed the existence of two other Elder Scrolls that held the secrets of the power of Auriel's Bow. One of these Scrolls was the Dragon Elder Scroll, the same one from Blackreach used to peer through the Time Wound. The other scroll was the Blood Elder Scroll, which Serana theorized was held by her mother, Valerica. Disillusioned with her father due to his obsession with the prophecy, Serana spoke with the Last Dragonborn in private. The two found a secret entrance in the Castle Volkihar Courtyard, which led to Valerica's Study. Reading Valerica's notes, the two managed to open a portal into the Soul Cairn. Venturing into the realm, the Last Dragonborn and Serana found Valerica trapped under guard by Boneyard Keepers and even the undead dragon Durnehviir. Defeating the Keepers, the barrier keeping Valerica trapped was dropped, allowing the Last Dragonborn to retrieve her Blood Elder Scroll. Durnehviir flew over after seeing the barrier fall, but the Last Dragonborn defeated him. Before leaving with the Elder Scroll, Valerica spoke of how Serana's blood would need to be used to fulfill the prophecy. This convinced the hero and Serana that Lord Harkon needed to be killed.

Returning the Elder Scroll to Dexion, the Moth Priest revealed his blindness and inability to read the next Scroll. However, Dexion revealed how to complete the Ritual of the Ancestor Moth, which would allow the Last Dragonborn to read the Scroll himself. Venturing to an Ancestor Glade, the Last Dragonborn completed the ritual and read the Blood Elder Scroll, which revealed Darkfall Cave as the location of Auriel's Bow. At the end of the cave, the Last Dragonborn did not find Auriel's Bow but instead found Knight-Paladin Gelebor, one of the last living Snow Elves. Gelebor opened up a Wayshrine to the Forgotten Vale and gave the hero the Initiate's Ewer, in exchange for slaying his brother, Arch-Curate Vyrthur. Entering the Forgotten Vale, and entering the Chantry of Auri-El with the use of the ewer, the Last Dragonborn and Serana fought the vampiric Snow Elf, but not before Vyrthur revealed himself as the author of the Tyranny of the Sun prophecy. With Arch-Curate Vyrthur defeated and killed, Knight-Paladin Gelebor arrived and gave the Last Dragonborn Auriel's Bow. With the bow in hand, the Last Dragonborn and Serana traveled back to Castle Volkihar, and challenged Lord Harkon. After a hard fought battle in his castle, the Last Dragonborn slew Lord Harkon, who melted into a pile of red ash. It is unknown if the Last Dragonborn would use Auriel's Bow to fulfill the Tyranny of the Sun prophecy on his own, or if he rejected the prophecy and continued fighting vampires on behalf of the Dawnguard.

Return of the First Dragonborn

At some point after the Greybeards declared the hero as a true Dragonborn, a group of cultists attacked him. They called him a false Dragonborn, and proclaimed the imminent return of the True Dragonborn, Miraak. Upon defeating them, the Last Dragonborn traveled to Solstheim looking for answers. His investigation led him to the Earth Stone, where he will meet the Telvanni wizard, Neloth. Neloth claimed that something strange was happening to the Earth Stone, but when pressed, claimed Miraak has been dead for thousands of years. The wizard did however direct the Last Dragonborn to the ruins of the Temple of Miraak in the center of the island. Upon arrriving at the temple, the Last Dragonborn was once again attacked by a few cultists. In the center of the temple, the Last Dragonborn will find numerous mind-controlled people working on the Tree Stone, as well as the uncontrolled Frea, a member of the Skaal. Frea will say that a curse has befallen her people, and her father Storn Crag-Strider, the village shaman, blames it on the return of Miraak. When questioned, Frea will say that Miraak was an ancient Dragon Priest that turned against his masters. He sought to claim Solstheim for himself and the dragons destroyed him for it.

Entering the temple with Frea, the Last Dragonborn will fight through cultists and draugr before coming across the Black Book, Waking Dreams. Upon reading the book, the Last Dragonborn was transported to Apocrypha where he came face to face with Miraak. Miraak revealed himself as a dragonborn, and proclaimed his imminent return. He then ordered the seekers around him to banish the hero back to Tamriel. Upon speaking with Frea, she urgently brought the hero back to her village. Speaking with Storn, he deduced that Miraak must have survived the dragons attacking him, and also realized the hero must be a dragonborn like Miraak. He bid the Last Dragonborn to travel to Saering's Watch to learn the shout that Miraak used, to potentially free the Skaal villagers from Miraak's control. Upon defeating more draugr and a dragon at the site, the Last Dragonborn returned to the Wind Stone with knowledge of the first word of the Bend Will shout. The Last Dragonborn was able to free the villagers and defeat a lurker that appeared. Storn Crag-Strider tasked the Last Dragonborn to further weaken Miraak by freeing the rest of the All-Maker Stones from Miraak's control, and advised the hero to see Neloth in Tel Mithryn for information on the Black Books.

The Last Dragonborn discussed the Black Books with Neloth, who revealed that they are artifacts of the Daedric Prince Hermaeus Mora. While he was familiar with the books, Neloth said he didn't have any useful information on hand. Rather, he brought the Last Dragonborn to the Dwemer ruin Nchardak where he knew of another Black Book that may be useful. After making their way through the ruin, they came across the Black Book, Epistolary Acumen. The Last Dragonborn read the book, and he was transported to Apocrypha once again. Making his way through the realm, the Last Dragonborn eventually meets Hermaeus Mora and makes a deal with the Prince. The Prince teaches the Last Dragonborn the second Word of Power for Bend Will, but withholds the third Word, forcing the Last Dragonborn to accept a deal. In exchange for learning the third Word of Power, the Last Dragonborn must make the Skaal give up their secrets to the Prince. After this deal is accepted, the Last Dragonborn returned to Nchardak. Leaving the ruin with Neloth, the pair was ambushed by the dragon Krosulhah, who was defeated and killed.

Upon returning to Skaal Village, the Last Dragonborn convinced Storn to give up the secrets of the Skaal so the hero could defeat Miraak. After the rest of the All-Maker Stones were cleansed, Storn felt ready to face the Daedric Prince. Unfortunately, the Daedric Prince tricked Storn, not just taking his secrets but also his life. Gloating, Hermaeus Mora bestowed the last Dragonborn with the final Word of Power for Bend Will, making him strong enough to finally face Miraak. The Last Dragonborn read Waking Dreams once again, and was transported to Apocrypha for one last time. The Last Dragonborn fought his way through Apocrypha, before coming across the dragon Sahrotaar. The Last Dragonborn bent the dragon's will to his own, and rode Sahrotaar to the Summit of Apocrypha. Face to face with Miraak once more, the two Dragonborn faced off in an intense clash. Fighting with sword and spell, Voice and will, the two Dragonborn fought until the Last Dragonborn finally emerged victorious. Miraak tried to escape, running to a pool of ink in the center of the arena. Hermaeus Mora, however, had other plans, and telekinetically lifted Miraak into the air. The Daedric Prince impaled his rebellious servant before congratulating the Last Dragonborn on his victory. Miraak disintegrated into bone and dust, as the Last Dragonborn absorbed his soul. With an ominous farewell from Hermaeus Mora, the Last Dragonborn returned to Tamriel once again.

Gallery

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  The Last Dragonborn, Skyrim live-action trailer

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  Dragonborn Triumphant, Call to Arms

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  The Last Dragonborn, Skyrim 10th Anniversary

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  The Last Dragonborn (top center-left), Elder Scrolls 30th Anniversary

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  Young Dragonborn, Legends

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  Dragonborn Mii Fighter (Super Smash Brothers Ultimate)

Notes

• ^	The race of the hero is never canonically confirmed and ultimately player determined. However, pre-release content of Skyrim and later artwork depict and refer to the hero as a male Nord. Legends depicts a "Young Dragonborn" as a female Nord.

See Also

• For game-specific information, see the Skyrim article.
• Dragonborn Heroes — A set of miniatures released for Call to Arms, based on different paths the Last Dragonborn might take.

References

Note: The following references are considered to be unofficial sources. They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.