Numinex's skull being displayed above the Jarl's throne.
Numinex is the name of the dragon that was shouted into submission by King Olaf One-Eye atop Mount Anthor in Skyrim.
- "Long ago in the First Age, a fearsome dragon named Numinex ravaged the whole of Skyrim. The dreadful drake wiped out entire villages, burned cities and killed countless Nords. It seemed that no power in Tamriel could stop the monster."
- ―Adonato Leotelli[src]
History
King Olaf kept the dragon in captivity as a personal pet in Dragonsreach, which was built to house the humiliated beast.
Paarthurnax tells the Dragonborn that he would visit Numinex during his imprisonment, and that Numinex was so lonely and disturbed by his captivity that he could not remember his own name. It is not explained how Paarthurnax was able to visit Numinex and escape without notice, nor does he offer any reason why he did not attempt to free Numinex from captivity.
After Numinex died, his head was removed and placed above the Jarl of Whiterun's throne, where it remains throughout the events of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
Trivia
- Numinex is the subject of Skyrim's first revision to King Olaf's Verse during the end of the quest "Tending the Flames". Depending on the player's decision, they can claim one of three possibilities for Olaf's victory: that Olaf captured Numinex while he was asleep; that Olaf made some sort of deal with the dragon; or that Olaf was Numinex himself masquerading as a human. While the third is a falsehood and is marked as such by a "Persuade" tag, it is unknown if either of the other two answers holds any truth.
- Dragons in Elder Scrolls are immortal; however, the suggestion seems to be that Numinex died in captivity, rather than being slain in battle. His cause of death is still unknown. He could not be resurrected by Alduin during the events of Skyrim because, unlike other deceased dragons, his remains are not easily accessed. Numinex's head is the only known piece of his remains to still exist, and as it is kept within Dragonsreach, Alduin could not reach him to resurrect him.
- Numinex's name can be seen in King Olaf One-Eye's plaque on the wall outside of the Palace of the Kings in Windhelm. Although the text is barely readable, it can be assumed the plaque describes how King Olaf defeated the dragon.
- A discussion of the different accounts of Olaf's conquest of Numinex can be read in the in-game book Olaf and the Dragon.
Appearances
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (mentioned only)