10 Most Engaging Skyrim NPCs

As the Dragonborn moves forward on their quest to defeat Alduin, they meet a man under the city of Riften named Esbern. He is a member of the Blades, a group of dragon hunters that have been nearly wiped out by the Thalmor.

Esbern is a bit of an odd fellow; he lives alone in the Ratway Warrens in Riften, and at first appears to be a bumbling conspiracy theorist. However, he has a deep knowledge of the dragons in Skyrim and he aids the Dragonborn in their quest to bring Alduin down. What the player learns from Esbern is utterly fascinating and provides gamers with a deep understanding of Skyrim lore. In addition to his knowledge of dragons, Esbern is also a skilled combatant, even in spite of his old age.

One of the best things about Esbern is that he was voiced by the late Max von Sydow, a masterful actor with decades of experience. His performance makes Esbern truly come alive, completely immersing the player into the story and world of Skyrim.