Nightblades are opportunistic adventurers known for their ability for getting in and out of trouble. They wield magic and use it to enhance their mobility, concealment, and stealthy close combat. They move swiftly and with haste by darkness, and use spells to benefit their circumstances. Nightblades thrive on conflict and misfortune, spell and shadow are their friends. Believed to be the most intriguing and shadowy of people, they trust their luck, cunning, and intelligence to survive, combining the skills of thieves with the powers of mages. They have a sinister reputation, as many nightblades act as thieves, enforcers, murderers, or secret agents. The mastery of their arts allows them to thrive as infiltrators and spies. Their presence is seldom seen but certainly felt.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Trickery, illusion, stealth, and agility make for a deadly combination, giving nightblades an edge in war.[7][3][4] Nightblades also wield Night Magic, which not only grants them additional magicka, but increases the accuracy of their spells. They are capable of creating night runes, which ravage the souls of foes while siphoning life-force from them.[7][1][8] In the Second Era, nightblades were known for their use of Shadow Magic.[1][9] Despite shadow stepping being commonplace in a nightblade's repertoire during this time,[10] teleportation spells were seemingly no longer associated with them come the Third Era.[11] The term nightblade was considered a fancy title with little relevance to magic educators.[12]
HistoryEdit
During the Three Banners War of the Second Era, nightblades were employed by the alliances.[13][14] The Empire also took nightblades into its service,[15] and during the Third Era nightblades were considered a standard part of any modern army.[16] The black bear is the preferred mount of Nord nightblades, as it blends into the dark, and makes no hoofbeats when it gallops.[17] Nightblade's Indigo is a hue named after the nightblades.[18] The Witches Festival is known to attract nightblades to towns it is celebrated in.[19]
Notable NightbladesEdit
- Dhaunayne Aundae — The vampiric leader of the Aundae Clan of Vvardenfell.[20]
- The Glimmering Foxbat — The Glimmering Foxbat is the author of books regarding shadow magic found in a nightblade's skillset.[10][9]
- Sumeer Jabran — Sumeer Jabran was the Nightblade of the trio known as the Dremora Travelers, who were considered the most fearless of their kind in Molag Bal's service,[21] and served as generals to his invading forces.[22]
- Unnamed Witchman Assassin — Nightblade assassin of the King of the Colovian Estates. They also razed the Imperial Palace and slit General Talos's throat.[23]
- Dram's ancestors — Dram's ancestors were distinguished nightblades in the Four-Score War.[24]
- Baynarah's nightblade — Baynarah's nightblade is a character from a historically inaccurate epic set in the aftermath of the war with the Dwemer and House Dagoth.[25]
GalleryEdit
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Dunmer Nightblade (Legends)
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Morag Tong Nightblade (Legends)
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Yokudan Nightblade (Legends)
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Nightblade (Daggerfall)
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Nightblade (Oblivion)
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Nightblade sigil (ESO)
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Nightblade's equipment (Morrowind)
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Night runes (ESO)
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Black bear mount (ESO)
See AlsoEdit
- For game-specific information, see the Arena, Daggerfall, Battlespire, Shadowkey, Morrowind, Oblivion, Skyrim, ESO and Legends Yokudan, Morag Tong, Dunmer and Solo Arena Nightblade articles.
- Shadow Magic
BooksEdit
- Stepping through Shadows by the Glimmering Foxbat — On teleportation magic
- Shadow Draining: A Hypothesis by the Glimmering Foxbat — On the magical effect of absorbing another's life force
ReferencesEdit
- ^ a b c Nightblade class in ESO
- ^ Nightblade class description in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
- ^ a b Nightblade class description in The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
- ^ a b Nightblade class description in The Elder Scrolls I: Battlespire
- ^ Nightblade class description in The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
- ^ Nightblade class description in The Elder Scrolls I: Arena
- ^ a b Nightblade class description in The Elder Scrolls Travels: Shadowkey
- ^ Soul Shred ability description in ESO
- ^ a b Shadow Draining: A Hypothesis — the Glimmering Foxbat
- ^ a b Stepping through Shadows — the Glimmering Foxbat
- ^ Response to Bero's Speech — Malviser, Battlemage
- ^ What's an Arcanist? — Gabrielle Benele
- ^ Among the records of Commander Sethisa Dalvani of the Ebonheart Pact — Sethisa Dalvani
- ^ Events of Kill Enemy Nightblades in ESO
- ^ Mystery of Talara — Mera Llykith
- ^ The Wolf Queen — Waughin Jarth
- ^ Black Bear Crown Store Showcase
- ^ Nightblades' Indigo in ESO
- ^ Witches Festival in Arena
- ^ Dhaunayne Aundae in Morrowind
- ^ Dremora Traveler's appearance at Dark Anchors in ESO
- ^ General Executioner achievement in ESO
- ^ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: Cyrodiil — Imperial Geographical Society, 2E 864
- ^ Dram Character Biography - Redguard.com
- ^ Poison Song — Bristin Xel