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Elder Scrolls

For other uses, see Odahviing.

Odahviing (Dragon Language: ODAhVIiNG Od–Ah–Viing, "Winged-Snow-Hunter"[1]) was an ally of and right-hand dragon to Alduin. The Dragonborn must summon him to an encounter in Whiterun during the main quest.

Background[]

Odahviing was killed sometime after the Dragon War and was buried in the southeast of Skyrim near Riften.[2]

During the Dragon Crisis in 4E 201, he was revived by Alduin to act as his lieutenant.

Interactions[]

The Fallen[]

Odahviing1

Odahviing captured at Dragonsreach.

In order to find the final location of Alduin, the Dragonborn must capture and interrogate Odahviing. To lure Odahviing into the trap, the Dragonborn must use Dragonrend to force him to land, and walk backwards into Dragonsreach, causing him to be trapped. While captured, Odahviing bargains with the Dragonborn for his freedom. For his release, he trades the Dragonborn his loyalty and safe passage to Alduin's temple of Skuldafn, high in the eastern mountains and reachable only by flight.

Odahviing2

Odahviing waiting to be mounted.

Epilogue[]

After the Dragonborn slays Alduin and is shouted back to the Throat of the World, the Dragons acknowledge the Dragonborn's Thu'um and began flying out and shouting, with Paarthurnax pledging to lead the Dragons and teach them the Way of the Voice. Odahviing then came down to the Dragonborn, wishing Paarthurnax success on his quest to make the dragons follow the Way of the Voice.

"As for myself, you've proven your mastery twice over. Thuri, Dovahkiin. I gladly acknowledge the power of your Thu'um."
―Odahviing[src]

Odahviing was already impressed twice over after the battle and pledged his life to the service of the Dragonborn, claiming that he will come to the aid of the Dragonborn whenever the Dragonborn needs help, if he can. Then he flies away and later can be seen circling the top of the Throat of the World.

Call Dragon shout[]

Summoning[]

Once freed, Odahviing becomes a friendly Dragon that helps the Dragonborn. He can be summoned by using the Call Dragon shout which is learned during the quest "The Fallen." He may only be summoned outdoors.

Behavior[]

  • When Odahviing is called, he will not harm followers, nor will they harm him. This includes any Legion or Stormcloak members assisted. Odahviing, however, becomes hostile toward Shadowmere.
  • If Odahviing takes too much damage in battle, he will land and stop fighting.
  • He prefers to battle from the sky and is still affected by area of effect spells, such as Lightning Cloak or Fireball.
  • Odahviing, when called to battle a fellow dragon, may enter aerial combat with the hostile dragon.
  • He fights until all hostiles are dispatched.
  • Once all hostiles are dispatched, Odahviing will circle overhead the Dragonborn and roar a farewell before flying off into the distance.

Dialogue[]

The Fallen[]

"Zu'u bonaar. You went to a great deal of trouble to put me in this... humiliating position. Hind siiv Alduin, hmm? No doubt you want to know where to find Alduin?"

That's right. Where is he hiding? "Rinik vazah. An apt phrase. Alduin bovul. One reason I came to your call was to test your Thu'um for myself. Many of us have began to question Alduin's lordship, whether his Thu'um was truly the strongest. Among ourselves, of course. Mu ni meyye. None were yet ready to openly defy him."
You were telling me where to find Alduin? "Unslaad krosis. Innumerable pardons. I digress. He has travelled to Sovngarde to regain his strength, devouring the sillesejoor... the souls of the mortal dead. A privilege he jealously guards... His door to Sovngarde is at Skuldalfn, one of his ancient fanes high in in the eastern mountains. Mindoraan, pah ok middovahhe lahvraan til. I surely do not need to warn you that all his remaining strength is marshalled there. Zu'u lost ofan hin laan... now that I have answered your question, you will allow me to go free?"
Do you promise to serve me? "Aam? Serve you? ...no. Ni tiid. If and when you defeat Alduin, I will reconsider."
Not until Alduin is defeated. "Ah. Well."
"Hmm... krosis. There is one... detail about Skuldalfn I neglected to mention."
Tell me what you know, then. "Only this. You have the Thu'um of a dovah, but without the wings of one, you will never set foot in Skuldafn. Of course... I could fly you there. But not while imprisoned like this."
We seem to be at an impasse, then. "Indeed. Orin brit ro. I cannot leave here until you defeat Alduin, which you cannot do without my help."
Do you expect me to take your word for that? "Ahraan. You wound me, Dovahkiin. I may not tell the whole truth, but I am no liar. Go and see for yourself. Zu'u ni bo nol het. I will be here... unless Alduin returns before you do."
Fine. I'll set you free if you promise to take me to Skuldafn. "Onikaan koraav gein miraad. It is wise to recognize when you only have one choice. And you can trust me. Zu'u ni tahrodiis. Alduin has proven himself unworthy to rule. I go my own way now. Free me, and I will carry you to Skuldafn."

The World-Eater's Eyrie[]

"You have reconsidered my offer, hmm? Onikaan kron? You will release me - ro laan - if in return I promise to take you to Skuldafn and stop helping Alduin?"

I'm still wondering if I can trust you. "Zu'u ni tahrodiis. It was you that lured me here and took me prisoner... vobalaan grahmindol. I have done nothing to earn your distrust."
You did try to trick me into letting you go. "Hin aar, orin nu. And yet here I am, still your prisoner."
I guess I'll have to trust you. "Onikaan koraav gein miraad. It is wise to recognize when you only have one choice. And you can trust me. Zu'u ni tahrodiis. Alduin has proven himself unworthy to rule. I go my own way now. Free me, and I will carry you to Skuldafn."
Yes. I'll set you free if you promise to take me to Skuldafn. "Onikaan koraav gein miraad. It is wise to recognize when you only have one choice. And you can trust me. Zu'u ni tahrodiis. Alduin has proven himself unworthy to rule. I go my own way now. Free me, and I will carry you to Skuldafn."

Upon being set free:

"Saraan uth - I await your command, as promised. Are you ready to see the world as only a dovah can?"

I'm ready. Take me to Skuldafn. "Zok brit uth! I warn you, once you've flown the skies of Keizaal, you envy of the dov will only increase. Amativ! Mu bo kotin stinselak."
Hold on. I'm not quite ready. "Kreh zini! The freedom of the sky beckons! Yet I stay here, nau gol, as promised."

At Skuldafn:

"This is as far as I can take you. Krif voth ahkrin. I will look for your return, or Alduin's."

Epilogue[]

"If Alduin himself could not stand against your Thu'um, I feel no shame in my own defeat. As for myself, you've proven your mastery twice over. Thuri, Dovahkiin. I gladly acknowledge the power of your Thu'um. Zu'u Odahviing. Call me when you have need, and I will come if I can."

Conversations[]

The Fallen[]

Whiterun Guard: "Hear that?" Whiterun Guard 2: "Shor's bones, here he comes!" Odahviing: "Dovahkiin! Here I am!" Jarl Balgruuf the Greater: "Steady! Steady, now! Keep under cover until it's down!" Jarl Balgruuf the Greater: "Get back! Get back! We need to trap it, not kill it!" Jarl Balgruuf the Greater: "That's it! Now, wait until he's inside!" Jarl Balgruuf the Greater: "Got him!" Odahviing: "Nid! (with a dragon roar of furyNid = "no!")" Whiterun Guard 3: "I think it's holding!" Odahviing: "Horvutah med kodaav. Caught like a bear in a trap... (Horvutah med kodaav = "trapped like a bear") Zok frini grind ko grah drun viiki, Dovahkiin. (with grudging admiration. Zok frini grind ko grah drun viiki = "my most eagerness (to) meet (you) in battle brought my defeat") Ah. I forget. You do not have the dovah speech. My... eagerness to meet you in battle was my... undoing, Dovahkiin. I salute your, hmm, low cunning in devising such a grahmindol - strategem. (pausing to think of the words in a foreign language)"

Dragon scales[]

Farengar: "Incredible! Uh... sir, you have no idea how long I have waited for such an opportunity! I would be most appreciative if you would permit me to perform some, ah, tests on you. Purely in the interests of the advancement of knowledge." Odahviing: "Begone, mage. Do not test my promise to the Dovahkiin." Farengar: "I assure you, you will not even notice me. Most of them are hardly painful at all to a large dragon such as yourself." Irileth: "Farengar, very bad idea. Even for you." Farengar: "Surely you won't miss a few scales... or a small amount of blood..." Odahviing: "Joor mey! What are you doing back there? Yol... Toor...Shul!" Jarl Balgruuf the Greater: "Farengar! Enough, fool!"

Opening the trap[]

Whiterun Guard: "Get ready to open the trap! This seems like a really bad idea to me." Jarl Balgruuf the Greater: "Carry on, soldier. This is all part of the Dragonborn's plan." Irileth: "By all the gods..." Odahviing: "Faas nu, zini dein ruthi ahst vaal. (Fear not, my honor holds my rage at bay.)" Irileth: "You're either the bravest person I've ever met or the biggest fool." Jarl Balgruuf the Greater: "May Kynareth guard you while you pass through her realm!"

Quotes[]

Music-icon
Length: 0:06
Description: Odahviing's reaction to being caught.
  • "Alduin has proven himself unworthy to rule. I go my own way now."
  • "Pruzah wundunne wah Wuth Gein (Good travels to the Old One.). I wish the Old One (Paarthurnax) luck in his... quest. But I doubt many will wish to exchange Alduin's lordship for the tyranny of Paarthurnax's 'Way of the Voice.' As for myself, you've proven your mastery twice over. Thuri, Dovahkiin (My Overlord, Dragonborn.). I gladly acknowledge the power of your Thu'um. Zu'u Odahviing (I am Odahviing.). Call me when you have need, and I will come if I can."

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

Odahviing 00

Odahviing at the Throat of the World.

  • Odahviing can be seen flying around the top of the Throat of the World once the Call Dragon shout has been obtained.
  • He is the last being to speak with the Dragonborn on the Throat of the World when they return from Sovngarde.
  • After Odahviing's capture, Farengar Secret-Fire will come to examine him, wanting to perform tests and gather samples. He moves around to Odahviing's hindquarters, then Odahviing will shout in pain and let off a burst of fire. Farengar will then flee afterwards.
  • Even if Farengar Secret-Fire is dead, Odahviing will still go through his dialogue with him as if he were still alive.
  • Odahviing is voiced by Canadian actor Charles Dennis.
  • Odahviing is one of the few named dragons that can be mounted, with the addition of the Dragonborn add-on. He also has unique audio differing from the other dragons.
  • If Paarthurnax was not slain after killing Alduin, Odahviing will express a mild resentment of having to submit to his tyranny. If Paarthurnax was slain prior to killing Alduin, Odahviing will express delight in serving the Dragonborn whenever they use the Shout to call him.
  • Odahviing's Dragon Burial Mound is said to be located southeast of Skyrim, near Riften, in the book, Atlas of Dragons.

Bugs[]

This section contains bugs related to Odahviing (Skyrim). Before adding a bug to this list, consider the following:

  1. Please reload an old save to confirm if the bug is still happening.
  2. If the bug is still occurring, please post the bug report with the appropriate system template  360  /  XB1  ,  PS3  /  PS4  ,  PC  /  MAC  ,  NX  /  PS5  ,  XS  , depending on which platform(s) the bug has been encountered on.
  3. Be descriptive when listing the bug and fixes, but avoid having conversations in the description and/or using first-person anecdotes: such discussions belong on the appropriate forum board.
  •  360   The Jarl must be at the Dragonsreach Great Porch in order for Odahviing to be captured properly.
  •  PC   360   PS3   Bend Will might not work on Odahviing.
    • To resolve this, reload the save before trapping him.
  •  PS3   Odahviing will not be capturable if Irileth randomly becomes hostile. This occurs upon leaving the great porch without capturing Odahviing first. The only way to fix is to go back to an older save.
  • If attacked while Odahviing is trapped in Dragonsreach, no damage is done to it and the dragon will do nothing. Upon release, it becomes hostile.
  • When it is trapped at the Dragonsreach Great Porch, it may not appear in the trap, and instead will be hovering at an angle behind it. If this occurs, Odahviing cannot be spoken to.
  • If Odahviing's health is completely depleted before the trap is sprung on it, the dragon will enter a stun animation similar to that of Alduin. This animation will never expire and the quest will become stuck.
    • Reloading a previous save should fix this.
  • When flying atop the Throat of the World and when called upon via the Call Dragon shout, Odahviing will not land if the Dragonborn hits it with Dragonrend.
  •  PS3   Calling Odahviing on the Throat of the World (Skyrim) would cause it to glitch out and not be able to land anywhere else.
    • The only way to fix this bug is by reloading a save.

Appearances[]

References[]

  1. Dialogue with Esbern during "The Fallen" quest.
  2. Atlas of Dragons
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