During the events ofThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, the province is plagued by a growing vampire menace. In response to this, a group of radical vampire hunters has formed, basing themselves in an old fort near Riften: the Dawnguard.
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Players can investigate this new order and begin a quest line to deal with the vampire threat. Along the way, however, they are given the opportunity to instead join the vampires andbecome one of them. They can then take up residence in Castle Volkihar, a creepy Gothic palace in the Sea of Ghosts, and mingle with the others who call it home.
10Garan Marethi
This Dunmer vampire is a powerful mage and a member of House Dres from Morrowind. He is quick to remind the player of their place in relation to Lord Harkon and is firm in the belief that legitimacy is acquired through power alone.
He offers numerous radiant quests that involve the playerhunting down Dawnguard members, or preserving the quality of the Volkihar bloodline by destroying weaker, unworthy vampires throughoutSkyrim.
9Rargal Thrallmaster
Rargal Thrallmaster is, in a way, the “chef” of Castle Volkihar. He is responsible for looking after the “cattle” (that is, the imprisoned humans on which the vampires regularly feed) and ensuring the court has a steady supply of blood whenever they need it.
He is fiercely protective over his cattle, though more due to their value rather than out of kindness, threatening to split the player in half should they kill any.
8Hestla
Hestla is the castle’s blacksmith, spending most of her time working in the forge. Conveniently, she buys and sells weapons and armor, so is useful for players who make the castle their home and need to offload some unneeded loot.
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Hestla boasts that before becoming a vampire she was once a Companion, and although she didn’t advance very far in the ranks, she could now slaughter them all with her new abilities.
7Vingalmo
Vingalmo is one of the higher-ranking members of the Volkihar court and is locked in a seemingly-eternal rivalry with the Nord vampire Orthjolf. Vingalmo appears kind and welcoming to the player when they join the court, and gives the player a warning that they should be careful who they trust - especially when it comes to Orthjolf.
Perhaps hypocritically, Vingalmo sends a lower-ranking vampire to kill the player and take the Bloodstone Chalice from them during the associated quest, so he can claim credit for finding it himself and earn Lord Harkon’s favor. Orthjolf sends someone to do the same, too, so Vingalmo’s warning was at least half-true.
6Feran Sadri
Feran Sadri is a valuable member of the Volkihar court, sellingalchemy supplies and potions. He is responsible for researching whatever the clan might need, spending most of his time in the castle’s library.
Feran offers several radiant quests to the player, including two that give access to some powerful artifacts: the Amulets of Night Power, and the Rings of Blood Magic. These artifacts enhance the power of any vampire character.
5Fura Bloodmouth
Fura Bloodmouth is a Master Two-Handed trainer, offering training in that skill up to level 90, so she is a useful NPC for vampire players that wield two-handed weapons. When the player joins the Volkihar court, Fura introduces herself by implying that the player could take the throne for themselves, and she would not oppose them.
Fura can offer the player several radiant quests involving hunting down Dawnguard members or lesser vampires, but once the Dawnguard quest line has been completed Fura can send the player to destroy the Dawnguard by killing all of its leaders.
4Ronthil
This Bosmer vampire is an assistant to Feran Sadri, often undertaking the less-savory tasks that need doing, and is very loyal to him and always willing to serve. He welcomes the player warmly when they join the clan.
Ronthil is an Expert Speech trainer and a general goods merchant, so will buy all the junk the player drags back to Castle Volkihar.
3Lord Harkon
Harkon is the ruler of the Volkihar vampire clan and is the one who properly greets the player when they first arrive at the keep with Serana. He is the primary antagonist of theDawnguardDLC quest line. Harkon is the first ofthe Volkihar vampires, earning his vampirism through a dark and bloody pact with Molag Bal. He is obsessed with a prophecy that foretold the darkening of the sun - an event that would be a boon to him and his clan.
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Lord Harkon offers a powerful form of vampirism to the player, and if accepted players will be able to transform into a powerful vampire lord.
2Valerica
Valerica is Harkon’s estranged wife, who disagreed with her husband’s desire to fulfill the Tyranny of the Sun prophecy. Seeking to prevent him from achieving his goals, Valerica hid their daughter Serana away for thousands of years with an Elder Scroll, and then she herself fled tothe Soul Cairnwith another.
After theDawnguardDLC quest line is finished, Valerica will move back into the castle and restore the courtyard garden, giving the player access to a steady supply ofuseful alchemy ingredients.
1Serana
Of all the members of the Volkihar clan, it is Serana who the player spends the most time with. Serana accompanies the player through much of theDawnguardquest line, and after completing several quests she becomes permanently available as a follower and makes forquite a powerful ally.
Serana can also give her blood to the player regardless of which side they choose at the beginning of the quest line, allowing even Dawnguard players to become a vampire lord.
Skyrimis currently available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch.
