Arvel the Swift is a Dark Elf thief whose nickname turns out to be less a boast and more a warning. He swiped the Golden Claw from Lucan Valerius in Riverwood, ran ahead of his bandit crew into Bleak Falls Barrow, and promptly got himself wrapped up in the web of a frostbite spider. He wears a full set of hide armor and is the main villain of the side quest “The Golden Claw”.
Where to find them
Deep in Bleak Falls Barrow, dangling in a web in the spider’s lair. When he hears you coming he calls out for Harknir, Bjorn and Soling, assuming you are one of his gang. Those are the bandits you most likely had to cut through to get to him, so nobody is coming to his rescue except you.
Quests
The Golden Claw – Lucan asks you to bring back the stolen ornament. Once the spider is dead, Arvel pleads to be cut loose and claims he knows how the claw, its markings and the door in the Hall of Stories fit together. The moment he is free, he sprints off into the tomb, so you will have to chase him down and take the claw from his body. His corpse also holds Arvel’s Journal.
The barrow is also where the main quest Bleak Falls Barrow takes you, so both jobs fit neatly into one trip.
Personality & relationships
Arvel is all gratitude while he is helpless – he even thanks Arkay when you agree to help – and all betrayal once his feet touch the floor. As he runs he makes it clear he never meant to share the treasure with anyone, least of all you. Once freed he has no time for chat: talk to him and you just get a “busy” message.
Good to know
- You don’t have to kill him. Pickpocket the Golden Claw from him after you free him and he can keep running.
- He doesn’t react at all if you turn into a werewolf or a vampire lord (Dawnguard).
Quick facts
- Race: Dark Elf
- Gender: Male
- Level: 1
- Class: Thief
- Status: Killable
- Found in: Bleak Falls Barrow
- Base ID: 00039646
Race, level, class and factions read from the Skyrim game files; story details checked against community wiki articles and written in our own words.