One of these books is The Book of the Dragonborn, an ancient text that elaborates on the history of the “Dragonborn” title. It also details the prophecy that reveals the player character to be the last Dragonborn destined to face off with Alduin, the “world-eater.” While this book can be found in multiple places, some players might be surprised to discover that the book first appears in Helgen Keep, right after the prisoner escapes from Imperial custody. While this could be a coincidence, the book’s presence could be a subtle hint at the player’s eventual role in future events.
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Ancient Dragonborn and the Order of Talos
When players glance at The Book of the Dragonborn, they see that the book was written by “Emeline Madrine, Order of Talos, Weynon Priory.” The names and locations provided seem unimportant, often leading players to ignore the book in favor of continuing the game. Some players might be unaware that the Order of Talos is closely tied to the Blades, a faction of dragon-hunters aligned with the ancient Dragonborn of the past. This means that Emeline Madrine might have been a member of the Blades, and the Weynon Priory might have been an outpost for the dragon-hunting faction.
Some players might be aware that many past Dragonborn were royalty. The Book of the Dragonborn states that the “father of dragons” Akatosh blessed mortals with dragon blood, and these individuals were the original Dragonborn. Since the Amulet of Kings had to be worn and the Dragonfires lit by the person who would become emperor, the Dragonborn were the only people who could ever become emperor. The text does establish that while being a Dragonborn is rare; it is not known how someone is given the power, explaining why characters from a wide variety of backgrounds can take up the mantle.
Revealing the Legacy and Prophecy of the Last Dragonborn
As soon as players slay Mirmulnir in Whiterun and absorb their first dragon soul, it becomes abundantly clear how powerful and rare the Dragonborn are. The Book of the Dragonborn goes into the meaning and legacy of being Dragonborn, giving context to the importance of the role. The book mentions that ancient scholars believed that being Dragonborn meant having dragon blood. In contrast, others say that past Dragonborn became the Emperor’s “Dragonguard,” an ancient sect of elite dragon hunters who saved much of Tamriel during the first Dragon invasion.
The other remarkable aspect of the text is that it gives context to “The Prophecy of the Dragonborn,” a collective thread of omens that details the true significance of being the last Dragonborn. The book surmises that the prophecy might have been made by Akatosh as he was granting the blessing to the first Dragonborn. In the book, multiple events detailed in previous Elder Scrolls games are mentioned - including the end of the Septim line and the Oblivion Crisis - as well as events that connect those games to Skyrim, like the Stormcloak Rebellion and the return of Alduin.
The Elder Scrolls 5 Skyrim: Anniversary Edition is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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