Odahviing ("Winged Snow Hunter"), is a major character in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, serving as the main antagonist of the quest The Fallen and a supporting protagonist onwards.
The second right-hand Dragon of Alduin, Odahviing tried to kill the Dragonborn only to be captured, bartering his servitude for freedom. After Alduin's defeat, Odahviing acknowledges the Dragonborn's superior might and becomes a valuable ally.
He was voiced by Charles Dennis, who also voiced Durnehviir in the same game.
History[]
Like all Dragons, Odahviing was descended from Akatosh, chieftain of the Nine Divines and the first Dragon, though unlike most red Dragons, Odahviing did not hail from Akavir. Like the rest of his kin, Odahviing came under the service of their eldest brother, Alduin, aiding him in subjugating most of Tamriel but particularly the province of Skyrim.
Under the Dragons, the Nords suffered extreme cruelty, often being sacrificed to their masters either for food, rituals or just pure amusement. Eventually, Alduin's right-hand Dragon Paarthurnax, guided by the Nordic Goddess Kyne, taught the Nords the Thu'um, the ancient language of the Dragons and the source of their power. After a long and terrible war in which three heroes banished Alduin forward in time via an Elder Scroll, the Dragons were overthrown and most survivors fled.
Despite their best efforts to escape, most surviving Dragons were soon found and killed by either the Nord armies or the Dragonguard (Akaviri warriors and predecessors to the Blades), Odahviing was not one of the fortunate few who managed to escape, and was cornered and killed, with his remains being buried in a mound in the Rift hold by the Dragon Cult.
In 4E 201 however, Alduin finally completed his journey through time and was brought back to Tamriel, immediately using his power to resurrect his fallen brothers and begin a new conquest of Tamriel. One of these Dragons was Odahviing, who Alduin(for reasons unknown) appointed as his new second-in-command to replace the treacherous Paarthurnax.
Unfortunately for the Dragons however, a Dragonborn had also emerged at the same point at Alduin's return and had begun using their power to kill Dragons and permanently prevent their return. The Dragonborn met with Paarthurnax and recovered the same Elder Scroll used to banish Alduin to learn the Dragonrend Shout. Alduin sensed this and attacked them atop the Throat of the World, only for the Dragonborn to use Dragonrend to defeat him, causing the World Eater to flee.
This defeat shattered many of the Dragons belief in Alduin, particularly Odahviing, who saw Alduin's defeat and flee as a sign he wasn't fit to rule, though neither him or any other Dragon tried to openly challenge him after he fled to Sovngarde to replenish his strength.
Soon enough, the Dragonborn, with the help of Jarl Balgruuf the Greater at either Paarthurnax or Esbern's confirmation of Odahviing's prideful nature, shouted his name from the palace of Dragonsreach, luring him there. Odahviing immediately met their challenge, killing a guard and raining fire before being struck with Dragonrend. Left with no choice but to land, Odahviing did so on the balcony before trying to rush the Dragonborn, only for the guards to drop the ancient Dragon trap above onto Odahviing, trapping him the same way the Dragon Numinex had centuries prior
Enraged and humiliated, Odahviing expressed his frustrations at falling for the trap, but instantly recognised that the Dragonborn wanted the location of Alduin. Before he answered, Odahviing admitted the Dragons waning faith in the World Eater and Odahviing's own desire to see if the Dragonborn was truly mightier. Odahviing then revealed that Alduin had fled to the temple of Skuldafn, which contained a portal to Sovngarde that Alduin used to devour the souls of Nord heroes to replenish his strength. When the Dragonborn asked if Odahviing would serve them, the Dragon only sardonically replied no, but would reconsider if Alduin was bested, before the conversation could go on, Odahviing revealed that Skuldafn was too high in the mountains to reach on foot, and only with the wings of a Dragon would they reach it in time. While initially sceptical to let him free, Odahviing assured the Dragonborn that he was no liar, he would honour his word to take them to Skuldafn and even if they failed, his loyalty to Alduin was done, eventually convincing them to set him free.
Before he could be set loose however, the Jarl's court wizard, Farengar Secret-Fire approached Odahviing, expressing his giddiness at finally meeting a live Dragon, who was less than impressed with the mage. The introduction took a turn for the worst when Farengar 'requested' to take some scales or blood from Odahviing's, despite the Dragon warning him not to test his patience. Ignoring these warnings, Farengar went behind the Dragon and prepared to take sampled, causing a frantic Odahviing to eventually let off a torrent of flames in the palace as a warning, causing a fearful Farengar to flee.
After that altercation, the Dragonborn convinced the guards to release Odahviing's chains, freeing the relieved Dragon and worrying the guards. Despite gaining his freedom, Odahviing keeps true to his word and escorts the Dragonborn to Skuldafn. After arriving at Skuldafn, they find it swarming with Dragons and Dragon Priests, as this was the extent of their deal, Odahviing leaves, sardonically noting that he would await their return or Alduin's.
Eventually, after fighting their way through Skuldafn to the portal to Sovngarde and gaining the help of the three heroes who previously banished him, the Dragonborn manages to defeat and destroy Alduin, ending the World Eater's threat. As a reward they are allowed to be sent back to Tamriel, arriving at the Throat of the World where they find Odahviing, Paarthurnax and many other Dragons waiting for them. The Dragons all shout to the sky, mourning Alduin before leaving one-by-one:
- If Paarthurnax is still alive, Odahviing expresses his sceptisism that many Dragons would wish to follow Paarthurnax and his teachings of the Way of the Voice, denouncing it as "tyranny", but expresses that the Dragonborn has proven their strength and acknowledges them as his new master.
- If Paarthurnax is dead, Odahviing will only jokingly admit that he no longer feels shame over his own defeat given that they defeated Alduin, declaring that they have taken Alduin's lordship, Odahviing submits to their might.
No matter what, with Alduin dead and Paarthurnax either dead too or teaching the other Dragons, Odahviing becomes a personal ally to the Dragonborn, coming whenever called to aid in battle and even allowing them to ride him across Skyrim.
Gallery[]
.png "Elder Scrolls - Odahviing (Render).png (1.05 MB)")
.png "Elder Scrolls - Odahviing (Skuldafn).png (2.13 MB)")
.png "Elder Scrolls - Dragonborn (Call Dragon).png (837 KB)")
Trivia[]
- When summoned, he will begin to fly towards your location from the Throat of the World, and based on the predetermined distance between you and the Throat of the World, he can take anywhere from five to ten seconds to arrive.
- When summoned on the Throat of the World, he will appear to vanish from his usual mountain cycle and then appear somewhere else nearby, and proceed to fly towards you from that position instead.
- If you use Dragonrend on Odahviing atop The Throat of the World, he will continue to circle the area as if nothing had happened.
- If he is downed in battle either from enemies or friendly-fire, you can choose to speak to him (non-dialogue menu based) and can hear him say various single sentences before he flies off.
- Odahviing is leveled, but at a substantially higher level than you until a maximum of level 50 is reached when you are level 36. For this reason, it may be better to start The Fallen at higher levels when you will find him an easier target. Also, with the exception of The World-Eater's Eyrie, Odahviing's level will remain as it was when first encountered, so if The Fallen is done early, Odahviing will become a decreasingly effective combatant as you level up.
- At his lowest level, Odahviing is as strong as a Blood Dragon. While at his maximum level he has the same status as an Ancient Dragon.
- You are able to ride Odahviing with the Dragonborn expansion. The easiest way to do so is to use the Bend Will shout while he's circling the Throat of the World. However, it is also possible to keep him around long enough to use Bend Will after using Call Dragon (or you can Call Dragon and immediately (before Odahviing has come to your aid) wait 2 hours to refresh shouts, then he will come as usual).
- Odahviing may be summoned during the Civil War battles for large cities, in which he proves a very lethal companion.
- Odahviing will not come if called on Solstheim.
- Odahviing also appears as a card in Legends.
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