The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim features a host of characters who make appearances in earlier games. It isn’t uncommon for a series that’s lasted as long as The Elder Scrolls has to feature some reoccurring characters. Skyrim seems to be the apex of this phenomenon, featuring arguably the most returning characters of any Elder Scrolls game. A few of these characters have managed to make an appearance in every single Elder Scrolls game, serving as a testament to their popularity and importance in the world of Tamriel.
What’s especially interesting about reoccurring characters in the Elder Scrolls franchise being featured in Skyrim is the time period. Skyrim takes place 200 years before the last entry in the series, Oblivion, which itself is the fourth game in the series. This means that by the time of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, each of these reoccurring characters have either passed on, aged greatly or achieved immortality.
Skyrim is an open-world game, and finding some of these reoccurring characters can be harder than others. While some serve important functions in main quests almost every player will experience, others are simply easter eggs to be stumbled on while exploring the world. Some characters are positioned in such a way that even hardcore fans of the series may not even know who they’re interacting with when they find them, only realizing it later.
Barbas Appeared In Three Elder Scrolls Games Before Skyrim
Barbas is one of the most frequently reoccurring characters in the Elder Scrolls series, appearing in the Elder Scrolls II, III, IV, V and Online. Barbas is the canine & Daedra companion of Clavicus Vile, the Daedric Prince of bargains and pacts. Despite constantly being at odds with one another, Barbas is loyal to his master and friend, even when it leads to his own discomfort.
Barbas appears outside of Falkreath after the Dragonborn’s first visit. Following Skyrim‘s talking dog companion to a shrine of Clavicus Vile will reveal that Barbas needs help reuniting with his master (whom he warns not to make any deals with.) The Dragonborn can choose to kill Barbas for Vile in exchange for the Rueful Axe, but reuniting Barbas with his master will reward the Masque Of Clavicus Vile, an arguably much more powerful artifact that doesn’t require the player to kill a dog.
Morrowind’s Jiub Returns In Skyrim’s Dawnguard Expansion
Jiub is the first character the player meets in The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind, being released from prison at the same time as the Nerevarine. Jiub is a buff Dunmer with pierced ears, a bald head, and a nasty-looking scar going down his face, implying a hard life that may well have justified his imprisonment. The tough-looking Jiub promises the player that he will turn his life around, and while players had hoped he would succeed in doing so, he unfortunately dies prior to Skyrim during the Oblivion crisis in the Elder Scrolls 4, only six years later.
In The Elder Scrolls 5: Dawnguard, the player gets to explore the Soul Cairn, a plane of Oblivion inhabited by the souls of the dead. Here players can discover Jiub, now known as Saint Jiub, a title which he received after he eradicated the invasive Cliff Racers species from Vvardenfell. While he may be trapped in a plane of Oblivion, the now sainted Jiub certainly made true on his promise to turn his life around.
Karstaag’s Ghost Returns In Skyrim’s Dragonborn DLC
The fearsome frost giant Karstaag ruled over the Riekling tribe in Castle Karstaag, Solstheim, terrorizing the local Nord and Dunmer population. During The Elder Scrolls 3: Bloodmoon, he was slain by the Nerevarine on the behest of Hircine, a Daedric Prince who appears in Skyrim as well. In The Elder Scrolls 5: Dragonborn, Karstaag can be fought as part of an unmarked quest titled “Summoning Karstaag.” The Dragonborn can travel to Glacial Cave and retrieve Karstaag’s skull, after which they can use it to summon the ghost of Morrowind‘s troll king and face him in combat. Upon defeating him, the Dragonborn gains the ability to summon the troll in combat, decimating people with the power of ghost troll.
Morrowind’s Neloth Returns In Skyrim
Master Neloth was the lord of Tel Naga and Councilor of the Great House Telvanni. He was as feared by the citizens of Morrowind as he was respected, serving as an incredibly powerful Elder Scrolls mage and enchanter. He plays a part in the story of Morrowind as well as the quests for house Telvanni, helping the Nerevarine along their quest to save Morrowind or rub shoulders with high society.
By the time of The Elder Scrolls 5: Dragonborn, Neloth has moved to Solstheim to escape the destruction of Morrowind. He lives in his tower of Tel Mithryn, which is a fraction of the majesty of his old tower. His apprentice, Talvas Fathryon, lives with him, and they study the heart stones as well as teach the Dragonborn enchanting. Neloth helps the Dragonborn on their quest to defeat Miraak after starting Skyrim‘s Dragonborn DLC, as any master wizard should.
Dervenin Previously Appeared In Oblivion
When encountered in The Elder Scrolls 4: Shivering Isles, Dervenin is a high priest of Mania and a devoted servant of Arden Sul. He will try to persuade the Hero to light the fire for Mania during The quest Cold Flame of Agnon, and will be elated if the hero does so. He will also teach the hero how to perform the Ritual of Mania, advancing the quest.
Dervenin isn’t doing so well two hundred years later. In The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, Dervenin can be found wandering the streets of Solitude, rambling incoherently, empty black holes where his eyes once were. The Prince of Madness certainly took a toll on his once loyal servant, and unless the Dragonborn chooses to intervene Dervenin will continue to wander as an immortal madman.
M’aiq Is A Recurring Elder Scrolls Character
M’aiq has made an appearance in almost every mainline Elder Scrolls game; Skyrim, Oblivion, Morrowind, and Online, making him one of the most frequently reoccurring characters in the series. M’aiq loves to share helpful information with Elder Scrolls players, helping them along their journey. The only problem is that M’aig’s information is not true, nor is it helpful, nor has it ever been either. He was introduced by game designers as an easter egg, and the so titled M’iaq the Liar loves to share misinformation that also breaks the fourth wall.
Players have wondered if M’aiq is in fact immortal, considering the timeline of his appearances. This is answered inThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim by M’aiq himself, with “M’aiq’s father was also called M’aiq. As was M’aiq’s father’s father. At least, that is what his father said.” This implies that M’aiq is not the same character as his first game appearance, and rather that each M’aiq is actually the son of the previous M’aiq, but since this information came from M’aiq it can’t be confirmed as true.
