Esbern

Esbern is an elderly Nord and one of the last two surviving Blades, together with Delphine. He was the order’s archivist, and nobody alive knows more about dragons, the Dragonborn and the ancient prophecies of Alduin’s return. Unfortunately, the Thalmor know that too.

The cornered rat

After the Great War, the Thalmor hunted the Blades almost to extinction, and Esbern went into hiding. By the time you meet him in A Cornered Rat, he has barricaded himself in the Ratway Warrens beneath Riften, convinced (correctly) that the Thalmor are closing in. Years of hiding have made him jumpy, suspicious and extremely talkative once he decides to trust you.

Role in the main quest

Esbern knows where to look for answers: Alduin’s Wall, a carving in the lost Blades stronghold of Sky Haven Temple. In Alduin’s Wall he leads you there, reads the ancient Akaviri inscriptions and explains how the old Nords defeated Alduin with Dragonrend. Later he helps work out how to trap a dragon in The Fallen.

Services

Once Sky Haven Temple is restored, Esbern can offer you bonuses against dragons – the Dragonslayer’s Blessing and Dragon Infusion – in exchange for dragon parts and a bit of his research time.

Personality

Brilliant, nervous and devoted to the old ways of the Blades. Like Delphine, he believes dragons must be destroyed – which puts him firmly against Paarthurnax.