Dragons - A thread to discuss all things about Skyrim's Drag
» Wed Aug 18, 2010 2:57 pm
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louise hamilton - Posts: 3412
- Joined: Wed Jun 07, 2006 9:16 am
» Wed Aug 18, 2010 9:37 pm
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LADONA - Posts: 3290
- Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2007 3:52 am
» Wed Aug 18, 2010 12:30 pm
Bump. So I haven't listened to the podcast yet has there been any new info I should add that i missed?
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Justin Hankins - Posts: 3348
- Joined: Fri Oct 26, 2007 12:36 pm
» Thu Aug 19, 2010 2:39 am
Bump. So I haven't listened to the podcast yet has there been any new info I should add that i missed?
Todd confirmed different "types" of dragons.
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Roanne Bardsley - Posts: 3414
- Joined: Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:57 am
» Thu Aug 19, 2010 4:08 am
Considering that BGS took 2 years to develop the Dragons I'd be dissapointed if they weren't different types or had different voice actors. I'm not saying we need 20 VA's for the dragons, I think 5 will suffice. Just don't make them sound cooler then Alduin that would be my limit.
The Combat should be hard but not too hard and yes they need to breathe Fire.
The Combat should be hard but not too hard and yes they need to breathe Fire.
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~Sylvia~ - Posts: 3474
- Joined: Thu Dec 28, 2006 5:19 am
» Wed Aug 18, 2010 10:41 pm
Todd confirmed different "types" of dragons.
Well I guess he sorta did that in the other hub update where he talked about different attacks, not all fire. But I'll listen to the podcast and see if there's anything new worth adding about dragons or dragonshouts...
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Andrew Perry - Posts: 3505
- Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2007 5:40 am
» Wed Aug 18, 2010 10:15 pm
What type of attacks/powers do you wish dragons will have?
Outrage and Draco Meteor, thank you very much. lul
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Eric Hayes - Posts: 3392
- Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2007 1:57 am
» Wed Aug 18, 2010 1:42 pm
DRAGONS
There have been many threads about the Dragons that will be a main part of TES V: Skyrim but I just thought it would be nice to have one thread as a sort of hub or place to compile all the info on these extraordinary and captivating legendary creatures of fantasy. I'm going to need the communities help keeping this up to date though. So if I'm missing something please post and let me know and I'll add it.
This thread should also serve for a place to discuss anything and everything about Dragons in Skyrim. Have a question, ask it here rather then start a new thread. The community will try to answer it to the best of our knowledge and as quickly as possible. Want to make a suggestion or discuss a specific topic about dragons, go ahead! This is the one stop shop for all things dragons.
Please skim through the http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1159301-dragons/ pages and read through the replies as there has been a lot of discussion already and questions answered, or just feel free to ask in here.
The base information is all on screen, if you wish to go more in depth in definition or description I've added spoiler boxes, if you click them they'll either explain something further or include my take on something.
Dragon's Appearance / Looks
Dragons appear to have ridges or spiky spiny backs from the three confirmed screenshots in the Game Informer Magazine article, Issue 214.
On page 47 you see a dragon perched on top a pillar of carved stone. It's wings are sort of draqed or hanging down to the sides. It's mouth open as if it were roaring. The tail appears to have a rudder appearance to it. There's definitely something more to it then just coming to a point with the same texture as the rest of the tail. It is possible that they have a rudder like wing bodypart at the tip of the tail as the picture of concept art on page 56 shows this in clear view.
http://www.gameinformer.com/cfs-filesystemfile.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Components-ImageFileViewer/CommunityServer-Components-SiteFiles-imagefeed-featured-bethesda-elderscrolls-elderscrollsv/dragonshoutfeatured.jpg_2D00_1680x0.jpg: On page 48 you see the Dovahkiin, player character, walking up a snowy mountain path with craggy mountain formations to the right with some carved stone ruins jutting out of these rock formations. (Perhaps this is the climb to High Hrothgar?) In the sky you see a dragon flying, wings outstretched as if gliding through the air. Tail straight with the hind legs retracted for better aerodynamics. The dragons head appears to be turned and looking at the player, rather then looking straight ahead the direction it is flying. Indicating it probably just noticed him.
On page 56/57 there is a Dragon, also with a spikey back, battling the Dovahkiin who is behind a shield. The Dragon appears to be using a fire attack that is illuminating the screenshot to where it's hard to see the rest of it's body.
All four pictures (3 screenshots 1 concept art) seem to show a horn structure or a sharp pointy elongated ear structure on the head of the dragons.
Most, if not all, the Dragons in Skyrim appear to be Wyverns.
Wyvern's have hind legs and wing-like arms.
The Dragons in the screenshots wings are very bat-like in appearance.
It's believed that the dragons have 3 talons with one dewclaw.
This section is sort of empty right now as far as pictures go because there's not many screenshots/concept art of dragons released. I'm not allowed to post images from the Game Informer article so I'm not going to be posting the scans or youtube videos of them. http://tinyurl.com/4unt4y5 Go buy the Magazine already.
Once we get the some official released screenshots or any other pictures/concept art I'll add it.
EDIT: http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/4616/dragoncombatart.jpg
Dragon Combat | Powers and Attacks
"The animations are sure to make them look believable and non-mechanical, even when the dragons are speaking/shouting or doing other powerful and menacing things like when banking, flapping their wings, gaining altitude before making another strafing run, and breathing fire on their hapless victims." - http://www.gameinformer.com/games/the_elder_scrolls_v_skyrim/b/xbox360/archive/2011/01/17/the-technology-behind-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim.aspx?PostPageIndex=2.
"Dragons are a regular threat in the game world. They ravage towns and fly free meaning you'll have to face them repeatedly in single combat. Be careful for they wield astounding power." - GI
"while talking to people a dragon might attack and you'll see them running for cover and guards running to their posts" - Spanish Mag Article
Attacks:
Todd Howard confirmed that "our dragons are speaking this ancient language, or this dragon language, that http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvpoR7knnI0&t=5m55s"
No real footage so far but as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE3OVZsnZUo&t=0m44s until we get some real footage :flamed:
Dragon's Voices | Sounds
In Skyrim the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTuN8LVFnWo&t=1m40s as Mark Lampert, Skyrim's sound designer and audio director, explains. "How do they speak? Do they sound like people? Do we find someone with a naturally very deep voice and try a straight read? That's sort of what I'm hoping for. Is to find someone who already has a very interesting gravelly or a deep voice. Have them effected in some way to put on some sort of, not an accent persay, but just a manner of speaking whether they drop their pitch or slow it down or something like that."
Possible Voice Actors who could voice these dragons as other posters have suggested;
If I missed anybody's suggestion or if anybody has another one please post it and I'll add it to the list. Also props to redonwhite for his http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1159020-who-would-suit-the-dragons-voice-well/.
Hopefully they will take a different voice for each different dragon approach as it would be nice to have the voices represent the dragon and, therefore, each dragon would be distinguishable from the next. Surely Alduin will have a great voice actor at the least.
Sounds:
In the Sounds of Skyrim: Designing Shouts & Dragons video Mark Lampert http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTuN8LVFnWo&t=0m44s.
"Never done a dragon before, so it's one thing to go look in movies where they have something similar but it's another to try to come up with it yourself you know using Animal Recordings, I've tried just screaming myself, and tried manipulating that in some way and I think in the end it's a bit of everything. It's a little bit of the animal, it's a little bit of me, it's a little bit of this. And so once you got the first one the next problem is well now I need 30 more of those. He screams like this, he screams when he takes off, he screams when he dies and it's very very different. Can I make variations of that from the one? Some of it I haven't solved yet."
Dragon Shouts
http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/01/20/skyrim-s-dragon-shouts.aspx
Dragon Shouts are one of the new gameplay mechanics in Skyrim. A new set of powers, that stand apart from the existing magic system, based around these words of power and when learned how to say them right can unleash a broad range of powerful effects. In the game, players will guide their hero to learn ever more powerful dragon shouts, and then use these arcane powers to supplement other combat and magic skills.
There are over 20 unique shouts and over time, players will collect their own arsenal of shouts. Each shout is formed from three words of power. “There are three words for each shout, and there are three levels to them. The amount of time you hold down the shout button is how many words come out,” Howard continues. “It becomes a bit of a collection mechanic – to collect all the words.” These multiple words can be gathered from different places around the world. Players can search out http://www.gameinformer.com/cfs-filesystemfile.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Components-ImageFileViewer/CommunityServer-Components-SiteFiles-imagefeed-featured-bethesda-elderscrolls-elderscrollsv/wordwall.jpg_2D00_1680x0.jpg. Upon these walls, individual runes stand out to the hero because he or she is dragonborn. The words are in this ancient language, dragon language (more on this below) and every ancient wall you encounter carries an ancient legend.
Also new info from the Italian magazine article on Skyrim indicates there are special enemies who guard these Walls. Undead Dragon Priest are a sort of guardian of the "dragon shouts walls" That pop up when the player approaches a wall. They put up an hell of a fight apparently too.
The dragon shouts vary in style and power and each shout will grow in intensity with each new word you learn culminating in giving the player the same overwhelming might of the resurgent dragon population. After collecting more than 60 individual words that form up into over 20 complete shouts, Skyrim’s hero will be a force to be reckoned with, especially considering that these dragon-based abilities will be layered on top of his normal leveled-up abilities in combat, traditional magic, and stealth.
Examples of known Dragon Shouts:
How are Dragon Shouts acquired?
The ability to attain these powerful dragon shouts is unique to your hero and the path to attaining them is a quest in itself.
Upon defeating a dragon, Skyrim’s hero absorbs the soul of the fallen creature, which "fuels" his ability to learn a new shout. Later, players can search out these scattered walls across Skyrim from which the dragonborn would learn the words. These walls covered in dragon script are where you learn the new words to increase the power and intensity of each dragon shout.
“There are other people in the world who can use the dragon shouts, but it’s very rare. It’s like arcane knowledge. It used to be done more in the past,” Todd Howard explains. “The Greybeards know it. But your ability to absorb the dragon souls and do the shouts on the level that you can is beyond them.”
Atop a great mountain that rises above the tundra and forests of Skyrim known as The Throat of the World sits High Hrothgar. A settlement that is home to the Greybeards who live in absolute silence in order to better attune themselves to the voice of the sky. The ability to use the dragon language already existed in the fiction and lore of TES. It was called “Thu’um.” The concept roughly translates as “The Voice.” These mysterious old men will play a key part in the Dragonborn’s story. http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Thu%27um and the Dragonborn hero (you) must climb the 7,000 steps to reach the remote retreat and be trained by them.
These dragon shouts are the same source of power that launched the last line of emperors. Tiber Septim would use the dragon shouts to lead his troops into battle and unite Tamriel under one empire. (More on his history http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1150358-skyrim-trailer-breakdown/page__st__100__p__16838257#entry16838257) Hundreds of years later, the Septim line has died out, and no other dragonborn have been seen for many years. That is, until the hero of Skyrim arrives on the scene.
Spoiler contains: 5 things I learned about the dragon shouts in past Lore of TES.
Mark Lampert discussed how they create dragon shouts in game.
"They want to have different voice actors for each race and gender to perform the dragon shouts. Hopefully we'll record them a few times doing the shout a few times doing the best they can, each level or word of the shout. On top of that when you hear it in the game I'll just reverb the hell out of it and put some sort of magic effect with it whatever the shout does."
Dragon's Language
http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/01/20/skyrim-s-dragon-shouts.aspx?PostPageIndex=2 and on the http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/01/20/skyrim-s-dragon-shouts.aspx?PostPageIndex=3
Towards the end of the announcement trailer, you probably noticed some mysterious language being sung. What you might not have known is that the words are in the tongue of the dragons, an entirely new language crafted by Bethesda for use in the upcoming game.
This complete language plays an integral role in the story and gameplay of the upcoming epic, and introduces an intriguing new facet to the Elder Scrolls mythology.
Complete with a http://www.gameinformer.com/cfs-filesystemfile.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Components-ImageFileViewer/CommunityServer-Components-SiteFiles-imagefeed-featured-bethesda-elderscrolls-elderscrollsv/stanza.jpg_2D00_610x0.jpg. Don't worry they will include a full grammar and syntax guide to aid you in the extensive vocabulary of words which serve as the backbone to the dragon shout system.
Todd Howard explains the Draconic Alphabet, “The idea was, how would the dragons write or scratch this language in the stone or on the ground? Everything is done with the three talons. You’ll always see combinations of one to three scratches, and sometimes the dot, which is like the dewclaw.”
The sound of the dragon language when you hear it spoken or sung has a vaguely Germanic or Scandinavian sound to it. It’s a harsh but oddly beautiful sound that feels right at home in the rugged landscape of Skyrim. And you’ll hear it in plenty of places. Not only do the dragons and the Greybeards recall this long-dead language, but many other creatures in the world do as well. Included among them are the undead draugr, http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Bloodmoon:Undead, Draugr are ancient Nord warriors who will call out in dragon language from their skeletal frames, threatening to pull you down to join them.
Every creature that cries out in dragon is saying an actual translatable thing to you. And perhaps most importantly, every dragon shout you acquire carries real meaning behind it.
The language concept abandoned tense, conjugation, and even upper and lower case letters, preferring that the context imply meanings instead. For instance, in the translation of Game Informer’s back cover, the word “fundein” translates to “unfurled,” but it could mean either unfurl or unfurled, depending on where the word is used. Similarly, the word “prodah” could mean either foretell or foretold.
The word ‘dovahkiin.’ ‘Dova’ means dragon. ‘Kiin’ means child. So we did a lot of that.
Lyrics in Spoiler
Dragon's Past History and Lore in The Elder Scrolls
As decoded from http://elderscrolls.com/assets/swf/Wall.swf. Alduin's Wall is a ancient structure that sits in the Sky Haven Temple, a last refuge for the dwindling forces of the Blades.(More on this below). The wall is named after the devastating dragon depicted upon it's carved surface. Across the wall is inscribed a history and a prophecy that speaks to one of the greatest legends of Tamriel - The story of Alduin.
More on Alduin in spoiler below
Thousands years ago, lost in the uncounted centuries that came before the recorded history, The Dragons ravaged the countryside. Waging war against humankind and driving them before their might. The humans could not stand against such force. Some of these humans would come to worship the dragons but all feared them.
(Pass on the spoiler for now, come back and read it maybe)
The Dragons were banished from the world of Nirn a thousand years ago, as revealed by GI. How or why is unknown to us yet but part http://media1.gameinformer.com/images/site/pages/esv/images/info2.jpg on Alduin's Wall gives us a clue.
This cryptic image tells of Alduin’s fall to humanity’s ingenuity and bravery, but more than that is not known. This piece of the puzzle would be incredibly important to understand for someone new who might hope to defeat the dragons once again. Who are the individuals standing against Alduin? How did they expel the dreaded beast from the world? Perhaps the re-emergent Dragonborn will uncover the answers.
The Elder Scrolls prophesized the return of the dragons. The signs of their return was laid out in predictions. The shattering of the Staff of Chaos (TES: Arena), the appearance of Numidium (Daggerfall), the events at Red Mountain (Morrowind), and the Oblivion Crisis (Oblivion). The last event the Elder Scrolls foretold would happen is the citizens of Skyrim turning against each other in civil war, which is happening at the beginning of the game. With the Fourth Era begun, the sons of Skyrim “spill their own blood”, as described by the Blade named Esbern within the announcement trailer. This final terrible event heralds Alduin’s ultimate arrival. As The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim begins, the high king of Skyrim has been murdered. Many within the northern country wish to secede from the crumbling empire, which has been on the decline for 200 years since the fall of the Septim Dynasty. Other Skyrim citizens insist the Empire is still worth fighting for. Conflict between the two sides seems inevitable.
Lesser dragons are already flying free around Skyrim. These Dragons are a regular threat in the game world. They ravage towns and you'll have to face them repeatedly in single combat. Be careful for they wield astounding power.
Long ago a force existed that expelled the dragons. The Dragonborn. These individuals can wield the same mighty power as the dragons themselves and battle them on another level. These Dragonborns are anointed by the gods so they could light the dragonfires to become empire. Such as Alessia, Reman, and Tiber Septim. These powerful figures were supported by the Dragonguards, later called the Blades. After the dragons retreated long ago they came to guard one ancestry of the Dragonborn, the Septim emperors. After the events of Oblivion they are wiped out and the dragonguards have been hunted down and nearly destroyed. Not to mention there has been no Dragonborn in decades until YOU arrive.
As Skyrim begins, a lone prisoner begins to learn that he may be the one Dragonborn destined to save mankind.
The prophecy depicted on Alduin’s Wall is dire, but it is not without hope. A single individual, gifted with the same incredible powers held by the dragons themselves, may rise to fight against Alduin and assure the world’s survival. The Blades shown http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3593710/Skyrim-Wallpaper2.png bow before the Dragonborn. They’ve protected the line of the Dragonborn for generations in anticipation of this moment, when a Dragonborn would rise to face Alduin upon his return.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=qeS_lbTd4Ws&vq=medium
Dragons in The Elder Scrolls Lore:
Todd Howard was quoted saying, "We have a different take on Dragons. So on one hand we like fantasy and we like Dragons. We always wanted to see [Dragons] done really well in a game. So we're trying that now. But the way they classically have a dragon and he breathes fire. Well now our dragons are speaking in this ancient language, or this dragon language, that creates fire..."
So clearly they wanted to take the classic view of Dragons and "twist it a bit where it still familiar to somebody but it does have it's own uniqueness to being Elder Scrolls and to the culture and lore of Elder Scrolls."
I'm confident the Dragons in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim will be the best dragons ever done in any video game yet!
Other interesting tidbits about dragons in Elder Scrolls Lore.
First, let me say that there isn't much info at all. Second, let me say that what's there could easily be retconned, as stuff has been before for the benefit of gameplay or a cool story. Third, let me say that, by the nature of the way ES lore works, it's hard to get any concrete idea of what has happened in history. There's the disclaimer.
There have been many threads about the Dragons that will be a main part of TES V: Skyrim but I just thought it would be nice to have one thread as a sort of hub or place to compile all the info on these extraordinary and captivating legendary creatures of fantasy. I'm going to need the communities help keeping this up to date though. So if I'm missing something please post and let me know and I'll add it.
This thread should also serve for a place to discuss anything and everything about Dragons in Skyrim. Have a question, ask it here rather then start a new thread. The community will try to answer it to the best of our knowledge and as quickly as possible. Want to make a suggestion or discuss a specific topic about dragons, go ahead! This is the one stop shop for all things dragons.
Please skim through the http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1159301-dragons/ pages and read through the replies as there has been a lot of discussion already and questions answered, or just feel free to ask in here.
The base information is all on screen, if you wish to go more in depth in definition or description I've added spoiler boxes, if you click them they'll either explain something further or include my take on something.
Dragon's Appearance / Looks
Dragons appear to have ridges or spiky spiny backs from the three confirmed screenshots in the Game Informer Magazine article, Issue 214.
On page 47 you see a dragon perched on top a pillar of carved stone. It's wings are sort of draqed or hanging down to the sides. It's mouth open as if it were roaring. The tail appears to have a rudder appearance to it. There's definitely something more to it then just coming to a point with the same texture as the rest of the tail. It is possible that they have a rudder like wing bodypart at the tip of the tail as the picture of concept art on page 56 shows this in clear view.
http://www.gameinformer.com/cfs-filesystemfile.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Components-ImageFileViewer/CommunityServer-Components-SiteFiles-imagefeed-featured-bethesda-elderscrolls-elderscrollsv/dragonshoutfeatured.jpg_2D00_1680x0.jpg: On page 48 you see the Dovahkiin, player character, walking up a snowy mountain path with craggy mountain formations to the right with some carved stone ruins jutting out of these rock formations. (Perhaps this is the climb to High Hrothgar?) In the sky you see a dragon flying, wings outstretched as if gliding through the air. Tail straight with the hind legs retracted for better aerodynamics. The dragons head appears to be turned and looking at the player, rather then looking straight ahead the direction it is flying. Indicating it probably just noticed him.
On page 56/57 there is a Dragon, also with a spikey back, battling the Dovahkiin who is behind a shield. The Dragon appears to be using a fire attack that is illuminating the screenshot to where it's hard to see the rest of it's body.
All four pictures (3 screenshots 1 concept art) seem to show a horn structure or a sharp pointy elongated ear structure on the head of the dragons.
Most, if not all, the Dragons in Skyrim appear to be Wyverns.
Wyvern's have hind legs and wing-like arms.
The Dragons in the screenshots wings are very bat-like in appearance.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat#Wings are bat's most distinctive -- and perhaps most remarkable -- feature. Bats are flying mammals in the order Chiroptera literally meaning, "hand-wing". http://www.biolib.cz/IMG/GAL/44679.jpg. Bats do not flap their entire forelimbs, as birds do, but instead flap their spread out digits, which are very long and covered with a thin membrane or patagium. The digits support the wing and at the end of one digit is a claw. The digits are attached to the radius which is also long and thin, but it is a strong bone that supports the wing. (http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/resources/anatomical_images/bat_wings.jpg/medium.jpg)
It's believed that the dragons have 3 talons with one dewclaw.
This section is sort of empty right now as far as pictures go because there's not many screenshots/concept art of dragons released. I'm not allowed to post images from the Game Informer article so I'm not going to be posting the scans or youtube videos of them. http://tinyurl.com/4unt4y5 Go buy the Magazine already.
Once we get the some official released screenshots or any other pictures/concept art I'll add it.
EDIT: http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/4616/dragoncombatart.jpg
Dragon Combat | Powers and Attacks
"The animations are sure to make them look believable and non-mechanical, even when the dragons are speaking/shouting or doing other powerful and menacing things like when banking, flapping their wings, gaining altitude before making another strafing run, and breathing fire on their hapless victims." - http://www.gameinformer.com/games/the_elder_scrolls_v_skyrim/b/xbox360/archive/2011/01/17/the-technology-behind-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim.aspx?PostPageIndex=2.
"Dragons are a regular threat in the game world. They ravage towns and fly free meaning you'll have to face them repeatedly in single combat. Be careful for they wield astounding power." - GI
"while talking to people a dragon might attack and you'll see them running for cover and guards running to their posts" - Spanish Mag Article
Attacks:
Todd Howard confirmed that "our dragons are speaking this ancient language, or this dragon language, that http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvpoR7knnI0&t=5m55s"
No real footage so far but as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE3OVZsnZUo&t=0m44s until we get some real footage :flamed:
Dragon's Voices | Sounds
In Skyrim the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTuN8LVFnWo&t=1m40s as Mark Lampert, Skyrim's sound designer and audio director, explains. "How do they speak? Do they sound like people? Do we find someone with a naturally very deep voice and try a straight read? That's sort of what I'm hoping for. Is to find someone who already has a very interesting gravelly or a deep voice. Have them effected in some way to put on some sort of, not an accent persay, but just a manner of speaking whether they drop their pitch or slow it down or something like that."
Possible Voice Actors who could voice these dragons as other posters have suggested;
- Steven Blum who http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSp4gKo5Zk4 in Dragon Age: Origins & http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2UxZYnoHMg&t=5m20s in Mass Effect 2 & http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXVqa675BSI&t=1m10s in Guild Wars 2 (Suggested by A-z-a-r-a-h-a-l, Kitoro, & Chopy)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBxF5x0TdP0 who voiced Draco in Dragonheart. (Suggested by Werewolf&Vampire)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbrbZ6Bh1-A who voiced Smaug in the 2003 video game The Hobbit.
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tc1QvI_llE0 who voiced Raze a Lycan in the Underworld movies. (Suggested by Outlaw_Omega & BaptisedBrawler)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcrToyMDCkI who http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlmiLbcpRNs on the tv show Merlin. (Suggested by Vixulation)
- Michael McConnohie a voice actor known for many roles such as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJTARvDHzNc, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxeQkk1UcdY, and The Lich King from World of Warcraft. (Suggested by Bloody Toccata)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW0QSg5f1Kk&t=2m54s who voiced Gimli and the ent, Treebeard, in The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. (Suggested by Wahoo)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMFl8p1Bhuo&t=0m21s voice of Hellboy and narrator for the Fallout game(s). (Suggested by fourtrax450)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwVbSOLvWjM&t=0m46s who is known for his loud booming voice in such roles as Boss Rugor Nass in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. (Suggested by Stokie Mcpot)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMRi8tYYnEs&t=2m49s who voiced Wrex in Mass Effect (Suggested by Vixulation)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaRdcVYTjRw who voiced Harbinger in Mass Effect 2 (Suggested by Vixulation)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvrIFIjTGt0 who voiced Sovereign in Mass Effect (Suggested by hlvr)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNNqc4pdbNA&t=0m28s who voiced Saruman in The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. (Suggested by AveObscurum & Seti18)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEyPhm98WaE (Suggested by redonwhite)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S_yX0j4-78&t=01m13s who's done work for such games as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxKckHuHx_0 . (Suggested by redonwhite and Outlander)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_osQvkeNRM&t=0m13s (Suggested by LostInSpace & lichmisfit)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4tNz_3dGBA who voices Optimus Prime in the Transformers movies. (Suggested by Sphagne)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alqrVVK9-i0&t=0m5s the top grossing voice actor and the man who voices Megatron in the Transformers movies. (Suggested by Vixulation)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAJgnUix2kI who voiced Darth Vader. (Suggested by Werewolf&Vampire)
- Michael Clarke Duncan (Suggested by Werewolf&Vampire)
- Keith David the voice actor in such roles as the Arbiter in Halo 2 and Halo 3 and David Anderson in Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 (Suggested by Ramjet81)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVMho2cP1NE (Suggested by Mithrys)
- Mickey Rourke who http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsusJVaAWf8, a Bethesda Softworks published game, as well as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjSkDsR3MoI from Sin City and portraying http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar2fn-uuVj0&t=2m27s in Iron Man 2. (Suggested by Wyatt Hertz)
- Ray Winstone who http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UATg4wpNges&t=0m32s and the Dragon in that movie as well as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYOnmJOz8Ks from King Arthur. (Suggested by Myself & Rivaldo)
- Will Lyman the narrator of the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC9mqbImrC8 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsSisukdpdE.
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai62ieVlm5Y&t=0m5s who voiced Worf in Star Trek. (Suggested by worm82075)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWG6zNf4xY0 the homeless man turned internet sensation. (Suggested by BoSStealthAgent)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tAiEFhNHZk (Suggested by rumblyguts
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My0HQ0QkGLQ&t=0m13s the lead vocalist for the German metal band Rammstein. (Suggested by LanceLeader)
If I missed anybody's suggestion or if anybody has another one please post it and I'll add it to the list. Also props to redonwhite for his http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1159020-who-would-suit-the-dragons-voice-well/.
Hopefully they will take a different voice for each different dragon approach as it would be nice to have the voices represent the dragon and, therefore, each dragon would be distinguishable from the next. Surely Alduin will have a great voice actor at the least.
Sounds:
In the Sounds of Skyrim: Designing Shouts & Dragons video Mark Lampert http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTuN8LVFnWo&t=0m44s.
"Never done a dragon before, so it's one thing to go look in movies where they have something similar but it's another to try to come up with it yourself you know using Animal Recordings, I've tried just screaming myself, and tried manipulating that in some way and I think in the end it's a bit of everything. It's a little bit of the animal, it's a little bit of me, it's a little bit of this. And so once you got the first one the next problem is well now I need 30 more of those. He screams like this, he screams when he takes off, he screams when he dies and it's very very different. Can I make variations of that from the one? Some of it I haven't solved yet."
Dragon Shouts
http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/01/20/skyrim-s-dragon-shouts.aspx
Dragon Shouts are one of the new gameplay mechanics in Skyrim. A new set of powers, that stand apart from the existing magic system, based around these words of power and when learned how to say them right can unleash a broad range of powerful effects. In the game, players will guide their hero to learn ever more powerful dragon shouts, and then use these arcane powers to supplement other combat and magic skills.
There are over 20 unique shouts and over time, players will collect their own arsenal of shouts. Each shout is formed from three words of power. “There are three words for each shout, and there are three levels to them. The amount of time you hold down the shout button is how many words come out,” Howard continues. “It becomes a bit of a collection mechanic – to collect all the words.” These multiple words can be gathered from different places around the world. Players can search out http://www.gameinformer.com/cfs-filesystemfile.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Components-ImageFileViewer/CommunityServer-Components-SiteFiles-imagefeed-featured-bethesda-elderscrolls-elderscrollsv/wordwall.jpg_2D00_1680x0.jpg. Upon these walls, individual runes stand out to the hero because he or she is dragonborn. The words are in this ancient language, dragon language (more on this below) and every ancient wall you encounter carries an ancient legend.
Also new info from the Italian magazine article on Skyrim indicates there are special enemies who guard these Walls. Undead Dragon Priest are a sort of guardian of the "dragon shouts walls" That pop up when the player approaches a wall. They put up an hell of a fight apparently too.
The dragon shouts vary in style and power and each shout will grow in intensity with each new word you learn culminating in giving the player the same overwhelming might of the resurgent dragon population. After collecting more than 60 individual words that form up into over 20 complete shouts, Skyrim’s hero will be a force to be reckoned with, especially considering that these dragon-based abilities will be layered on top of his normal leveled-up abilities in combat, traditional magic, and stealth.
Examples of known Dragon Shouts:
- One power is a invisible push of staggering power that sends foes hurtling away from you staggered by the force of your yell. Spoken in the game, your hero will intone the three words for the full shout: “Fus, Ro, Dah!” Translated into English, “Fus” means force, “Ro” means balance, and “Dah” means push. (Thu'um?)
- One slows down time around you.
- One, spoken as a whisper, aids you in stealth by sending you instantaneously from one place to another. Blinking or Teleporting very quickly.
- One particular shout has you speaking the true name of an actual dragon which then forces the beast to come to your aid and fight beside you in battle.
How are Dragon Shouts acquired?
The ability to attain these powerful dragon shouts is unique to your hero and the path to attaining them is a quest in itself.
Upon defeating a dragon, Skyrim’s hero absorbs the soul of the fallen creature, which "fuels" his ability to learn a new shout. Later, players can search out these scattered walls across Skyrim from which the dragonborn would learn the words. These walls covered in dragon script are where you learn the new words to increase the power and intensity of each dragon shout.
Spoiler
My guess is you'll visit the Greybeards atop High Hrothgar, that is to assume you successfully manage to climb the 7,000 steps 
, and they will train you in the way of the tongues. Teaching you your first dragon shout. Which one? My guess is the one that act most like the Thu'um of Nord legends. The one that the god Shor taught mankind to use. First with King Harrald Hairy Breeks (used Thu'um), then with King Wulfharth who's thu'um was so powerful that he could not verbally swear into the office when elected by the Pact of Chieftains so scribes were used to draw up his oaths, and finally with Tiber Septim whom he visited at the battle of http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1150358-skyrim-trailer-breakdown/page__view__findpost__p__16838257 and taught him Thu'um.
The power is a invisible push of staggering power that sends foes hurtling away from you staggered by the force of your yell. Spoken in the game, your hero will intone the three words for the full shout: “Fus, Ro, Dah!” Translated into English, “Fus” means force, “Ro” means balance, and “Dah” means push.
Then you must kill the dragons that are suppose to be a regular threat to unlock the ability to learn more shouts, As defeating a dragon has you absorb the soul of the fallen creature, which "fuels" the ability to learn a new shout. Then you visit ancient walls of draconic scripture and learn more words as you collect and become more powerful with your dragonshouts.
That's my take on it anyways.
, and they will train you in the way of the tongues. Teaching you your first dragon shout. Which one? My guess is the one that act most like the Thu'um of Nord legends. The one that the god Shor taught mankind to use. First with King Harrald Hairy Breeks (used Thu'um), then with King Wulfharth who's thu'um was so powerful that he could not verbally swear into the office when elected by the Pact of Chieftains so scribes were used to draw up his oaths, and finally with Tiber Septim whom he visited at the battle of http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1150358-skyrim-trailer-breakdown/page__view__findpost__p__16838257 and taught him Thu'um. The power is a invisible push of staggering power that sends foes hurtling away from you staggered by the force of your yell. Spoken in the game, your hero will intone the three words for the full shout: “Fus, Ro, Dah!” Translated into English, “Fus” means force, “Ro” means balance, and “Dah” means push.
Then you must kill the dragons that are suppose to be a regular threat to unlock the ability to learn more shouts, As defeating a dragon has you absorb the soul of the fallen creature, which "fuels" the ability to learn a new shout. Then you visit ancient walls of draconic scripture and learn more words as you collect and become more powerful with your dragonshouts.
That's my take on it anyways.
“There are other people in the world who can use the dragon shouts, but it’s very rare. It’s like arcane knowledge. It used to be done more in the past,” Todd Howard explains. “The Greybeards know it. But your ability to absorb the dragon souls and do the shouts on the level that you can is beyond them.”
Atop a great mountain that rises above the tundra and forests of Skyrim known as The Throat of the World sits High Hrothgar. A settlement that is home to the Greybeards who live in absolute silence in order to better attune themselves to the voice of the sky. The ability to use the dragon language already existed in the fiction and lore of TES. It was called “Thu’um.” The concept roughly translates as “The Voice.” These mysterious old men will play a key part in the Dragonborn’s story. http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Thu%27um and the Dragonborn hero (you) must climb the 7,000 steps to reach the remote retreat and be trained by them.
These dragon shouts are the same source of power that launched the last line of emperors. Tiber Septim would use the dragon shouts to lead his troops into battle and unite Tamriel under one empire. (More on his history http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1150358-skyrim-trailer-breakdown/page__st__100__p__16838257#entry16838257) Hundreds of years later, the Septim line has died out, and no other dragonborn have been seen for many years. That is, until the hero of Skyrim arrives on the scene.
Spoiler contains: 5 things I learned about the dragon shouts in past Lore of TES.
Spoiler
1. Thu’um sounds badass and very powerful.
A long practiced spiritual form of Nordic magic, also known as the Tongues, that is based on their worship of the Wind as a personification of Kynareth. Through the use of the Voice the power of a Nord can be formed into a thu'um, or shout - which has a large variety of applications. Shouts can be used to sharpen blades or to strike enemies. A common effect is the shout that knocks an enemy back, or the power of command. A strong Nord can instill bravery in men with his battle-cry, or stop a charging warrior with a roar.
Master Voices (known simply as Tongues) have legendary, and often unbelievable powers. They can call to specific people over hundreds of miles, and can move by casting a shout, appearing where it lands. The most powerful masters must even be careful whenever they speak, as their voice can cause great destruction. They must go gagged, and communicate through a sign language and through scribing runes. The breath and the voice are the vital essence of a Nord.
Today, all Tongues live secluded lives on the highest peaks of Skyrim in tough conditions and contemplation, and have only spoken to announce the destiny of the great Tiber Septim.
2. When the Nords attack a city, they take no siege engines or cavalry; the Tongues form in a wedge in front of the gatehouse, and draw in breath. When the leader lets it out in a Thu'um, the doors are blown in, and the axemen rush into the city.
When they defeat great enemies they take their tongues as trophies. These are woven into ropes and can hold speech like an enchantment.
3. During the Conquest of Morrowind, the Nordic war chiefs were also Tongues (Derek the Tall, Jorg Helmborg, Hoag Merkiller). They needed no typical siege weapons when attacking a city as they merely used the Voice to break down the city gate and allow their armies to storm in. The future of the Tongues was forever changed by the most powerful Tongue, Jurgen Windcaller, also better known as the Calm. Jurgen converted to a pacifist and refused to use the Voice for any martial purposes. In a confrontation with 17 other tongues he reportedly swallowed the Shouts of the 17 for three days until they lay exhausted, later to become his followers.
The art of Thu-um as a weapon is now lost and forbidden. Apart from the students of the discredited School of Thu'um in the Imperial City, Tiber Septim was reputedly the last man to wield this power. However, the ancient Greybeards still sit atop the many steps leading to the peak of High Hrothgar. (Hints that this is the training you shall receive in Skyrim)
4. The further north you go into Skyrim, the more powerful and elemental the people become, and the less they require dwellings and shelters. Wind is fundamental to Skyrim and the Nords; those that live in the far wastes always carry a wind with them.
5. Nords consider themselves to be the children of the sky. They call Skyrim or rather the tallest mountain in Skyrim the Throat of the World, because http://www.imperial-library.info/content/morrowind-children-sky They believe that they were http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Nord when the sky breathed onto the peak of this mountain, where High Hrothgar stands. The religion of Skyrim is focused on the Aedra and their old ally, Lorkhan. The Nordic Akatosh is Alduin, a terrible, ravenous dragon who presides over the cycle of existence and devours the universe at intervals. His coming is feared by all pious Nords, and he is the object of (through Nordic eyes) perverse worship by the Altmer, who venerated Auri-El. In more recent days, it has been shown that the traditional Alduin can co-exist with the less adversarial Cyrodiilic interpretation of Akatosh the Time Dragon. Kyne is notably more assertive and warlike than the nature-loving Kynareth. Although Mara is present in her role as a mother goddess, it was Kyne who is the mother of the Nords. She is also credited with sending her son Morihaus (and perhaps Pelinal) to the aid of the Cyro-Nordic slaves in their uprising. The chief of the pantheon of Skyrim is Lorkhan, and he merits the most mention. The Nords know him as Shor. The king of the gods, a champion of men in their struggles against the elves. He was treacherously slain by elven devils, yet continues to bestow favor on his people by aiding them with immortal champions such as Ysmir, another member of the Nordic pantheon. Today, Ysmir is the name by which Nords recognize the divinity of Talos.
Spoiler Contains: My theory on Shor's connection to the Dovahkiin (Dragonborn) in Skyrim
Interesting take on things by the Nords huh?
1. Thu’um sounds badass and very powerful.
A long practiced spiritual form of Nordic magic, also known as the Tongues, that is based on their worship of the Wind as a personification of Kynareth. Through the use of the Voice the power of a Nord can be formed into a thu'um, or shout - which has a large variety of applications. Shouts can be used to sharpen blades or to strike enemies. A common effect is the shout that knocks an enemy back, or the power of command. A strong Nord can instill bravery in men with his battle-cry, or stop a charging warrior with a roar.
Master Voices (known simply as Tongues) have legendary, and often unbelievable powers. They can call to specific people over hundreds of miles, and can move by casting a shout, appearing where it lands. The most powerful masters must even be careful whenever they speak, as their voice can cause great destruction. They must go gagged, and communicate through a sign language and through scribing runes. The breath and the voice are the vital essence of a Nord.
Today, all Tongues live secluded lives on the highest peaks of Skyrim in tough conditions and contemplation, and have only spoken to announce the destiny of the great Tiber Septim.
2. When the Nords attack a city, they take no siege engines or cavalry; the Tongues form in a wedge in front of the gatehouse, and draw in breath. When the leader lets it out in a Thu'um, the doors are blown in, and the axemen rush into the city.
When they defeat great enemies they take their tongues as trophies. These are woven into ropes and can hold speech like an enchantment.
3. During the Conquest of Morrowind, the Nordic war chiefs were also Tongues (Derek the Tall, Jorg Helmborg, Hoag Merkiller). They needed no typical siege weapons when attacking a city as they merely used the Voice to break down the city gate and allow their armies to storm in. The future of the Tongues was forever changed by the most powerful Tongue, Jurgen Windcaller, also better known as the Calm. Jurgen converted to a pacifist and refused to use the Voice for any martial purposes. In a confrontation with 17 other tongues he reportedly swallowed the Shouts of the 17 for three days until they lay exhausted, later to become his followers.
The art of Thu-um as a weapon is now lost and forbidden. Apart from the students of the discredited School of Thu'um in the Imperial City, Tiber Septim was reputedly the last man to wield this power. However, the ancient Greybeards still sit atop the many steps leading to the peak of High Hrothgar. (Hints that this is the training you shall receive in Skyrim)
4. The further north you go into Skyrim, the more powerful and elemental the people become, and the less they require dwellings and shelters. Wind is fundamental to Skyrim and the Nords; those that live in the far wastes always carry a wind with them.
5. Nords consider themselves to be the children of the sky. They call Skyrim or rather the tallest mountain in Skyrim the Throat of the World, because http://www.imperial-library.info/content/morrowind-children-sky They believe that they were http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Nord when the sky breathed onto the peak of this mountain, where High Hrothgar stands. The religion of Skyrim is focused on the Aedra and their old ally, Lorkhan. The Nordic Akatosh is Alduin, a terrible, ravenous dragon who presides over the cycle of existence and devours the universe at intervals. His coming is feared by all pious Nords, and he is the object of (through Nordic eyes) perverse worship by the Altmer, who venerated Auri-El. In more recent days, it has been shown that the traditional Alduin can co-exist with the less adversarial Cyrodiilic interpretation of Akatosh the Time Dragon. Kyne is notably more assertive and warlike than the nature-loving Kynareth. Although Mara is present in her role as a mother goddess, it was Kyne who is the mother of the Nords. She is also credited with sending her son Morihaus (and perhaps Pelinal) to the aid of the Cyro-Nordic slaves in their uprising. The chief of the pantheon of Skyrim is Lorkhan, and he merits the most mention. The Nords know him as Shor. The king of the gods, a champion of men in their struggles against the elves. He was treacherously slain by elven devils, yet continues to bestow favor on his people by aiding them with immortal champions such as Ysmir, another member of the Nordic pantheon. Today, Ysmir is the name by which Nords recognize the divinity of Talos.
Spoiler Contains: My theory on Shor's connection to the Dovahkiin (Dragonborn) in Skyrim
Spoiler
I posted this awhile back in my http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1152130-the-story-behind-skyrim-v20/page__view__findpost__p__16865167 but I think it pertains to the topic of discussion so I'm going to re-post it.
I posted this awhile back in my http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1152130-the-story-behind-skyrim-v20/page__view__findpost__p__16865167 but I think it pertains to the topic of discussion so I'm going to re-post it.
Interesting take on things by the Nords huh?
Mark Lampert discussed how they create dragon shouts in game.
"They want to have different voice actors for each race and gender to perform the dragon shouts. Hopefully we'll record them a few times doing the shout a few times doing the best they can, each level or word of the shout. On top of that when you hear it in the game I'll just reverb the hell out of it and put some sort of magic effect with it whatever the shout does."
Dragon's Language
http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/01/20/skyrim-s-dragon-shouts.aspx?PostPageIndex=2 and on the http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/01/20/skyrim-s-dragon-shouts.aspx?PostPageIndex=3
Towards the end of the announcement trailer, you probably noticed some mysterious language being sung. What you might not have known is that the words are in the tongue of the dragons, an entirely new language crafted by Bethesda for use in the upcoming game.
This complete language plays an integral role in the story and gameplay of the upcoming epic, and introduces an intriguing new facet to the Elder Scrolls mythology.
Complete with a http://www.gameinformer.com/cfs-filesystemfile.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Components-ImageFileViewer/CommunityServer-Components-SiteFiles-imagefeed-featured-bethesda-elderscrolls-elderscrollsv/stanza.jpg_2D00_610x0.jpg. Don't worry they will include a full grammar and syntax guide to aid you in the extensive vocabulary of words which serve as the backbone to the dragon shout system.
Todd Howard explains the Draconic Alphabet, “The idea was, how would the dragons write or scratch this language in the stone or on the ground? Everything is done with the three talons. You’ll always see combinations of one to three scratches, and sometimes the dot, which is like the dewclaw.”
The sound of the dragon language when you hear it spoken or sung has a vaguely Germanic or Scandinavian sound to it. It’s a harsh but oddly beautiful sound that feels right at home in the rugged landscape of Skyrim. And you’ll hear it in plenty of places. Not only do the dragons and the Greybeards recall this long-dead language, but many other creatures in the world do as well. Included among them are the undead draugr, http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Bloodmoon:Undead, Draugr are ancient Nord warriors who will call out in dragon language from their skeletal frames, threatening to pull you down to join them.
Every creature that cries out in dragon is saying an actual translatable thing to you. And perhaps most importantly, every dragon shout you acquire carries real meaning behind it.
The language concept abandoned tense, conjugation, and even upper and lower case letters, preferring that the context imply meanings instead. For instance, in the translation of Game Informer’s back cover, the word “fundein” translates to “unfurled,” but it could mean either unfurl or unfurled, depending on where the word is used. Similarly, the word “prodah” could mean either foretell or foretold.
The word ‘dovahkiin.’ ‘Dova’ means dragon. ‘Kiin’ means child. So we did a lot of that.
Lyrics in Spoiler
Spoiler
DOVahKiiN DOVahKiiN
NaaL OK ZIN LOS VahRiiN
Wah DeiN VOKUL MahFAERaaK ahST VaaL
ahRK FIN NOROK PaaL GRaaN
FOD NUST HON ZINDRO ZaaN
DOVahKiiN Fah HIN KOGaaN MU DRaaL
ahRK FIN KEL LOST PODRah
DO VED ViiNG KO FIN KRah
TOL FOD ZeyMah WIN KeiN MeyZ FUNDeiN
ALDUIN FeyN DO JUN
KRUZiiD VOKUN STaaDNAU
VOTH aaN BahLOK Wah DiiVON FIN LeiN
Dragonborn Dragonborn
By his honor is sworn
To keep evil forever at bay
And the fiercest foes rout
When they hear triumph’s shout
Dragonborn for hunger blessing we pray
And the scrolls have fortold
Of black wings in the cold
That when brothers wage war come unfurled
Alduin, bane of kings
Ancient shadow unbound
With a hunger to swallow the world!
http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/01/06/translating-the-cover.aspx
Props to Senju for his http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1156123-the-language-of-the-dragons/page__p__16927268__fromsearch__1#entry16927268.
DOVahKiiN DOVahKiiN
NaaL OK ZIN LOS VahRiiN
Wah DeiN VOKUL MahFAERaaK ahST VaaL
ahRK FIN NOROK PaaL GRaaN
FOD NUST HON ZINDRO ZaaN
DOVahKiiN Fah HIN KOGaaN MU DRaaL
ahRK FIN KEL LOST PODRah
DO VED ViiNG KO FIN KRah
TOL FOD ZeyMah WIN KeiN MeyZ FUNDeiN
ALDUIN FeyN DO JUN
KRUZiiD VOKUN STaaDNAU
VOTH aaN BahLOK Wah DiiVON FIN LeiN
Dragonborn Dragonborn
By his honor is sworn
To keep evil forever at bay
And the fiercest foes rout
When they hear triumph’s shout
Dragonborn for hunger blessing we pray
And the scrolls have fortold
Of black wings in the cold
That when brothers wage war come unfurled
Alduin, bane of kings
Ancient shadow unbound
With a hunger to swallow the world!
http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/01/06/translating-the-cover.aspx
Props to Senju for his http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1156123-the-language-of-the-dragons/page__p__16927268__fromsearch__1#entry16927268.
Dragon's Past History and Lore in The Elder Scrolls
As decoded from http://elderscrolls.com/assets/swf/Wall.swf. Alduin's Wall is a ancient structure that sits in the Sky Haven Temple, a last refuge for the dwindling forces of the Blades.(More on this below). The wall is named after the devastating dragon depicted upon it's carved surface. Across the wall is inscribed a history and a prophecy that speaks to one of the greatest legends of Tamriel - The story of Alduin.
More on Alduin in spoiler below
Spoiler
Alduin's sobriquet, 'The World Eater', comes from myths that depict him as the horrible, rauaging firestorm that destroyed the last world to begin this one. Akatosh was the first of the et'Ada to form an identity, bringing with him the concept of Time.
The Nord's know Alduin as a terrible, ravenous dragon who presides over the cycle of existence and devours the universe at intervals. Alduin's coming is feared by all pious Nords, and he is the object of (through Nordic eyes) perverse worship by the Altmer, who venerated Auri-El. Auri-El is just the Elven name for Akatosh like Alduin is the Nordic name for Akatosh.
Nords therefore see the god of time as both creator and harbinger of the apocalypse.
Alduin's sobriquet, 'The World Eater', comes from myths that depict him as the horrible, rauaging firestorm that destroyed the last world to begin this one. Akatosh was the first of the et'Ada to form an identity, bringing with him the concept of Time.
The Nord's know Alduin as a terrible, ravenous dragon who presides over the cycle of existence and devours the universe at intervals. Alduin's coming is feared by all pious Nords, and he is the object of (through Nordic eyes) perverse worship by the Altmer, who venerated Auri-El. Auri-El is just the Elven name for Akatosh like Alduin is the Nordic name for Akatosh.
Nords therefore see the god of time as both creator and harbinger of the apocalypse.
Thousands years ago, lost in the uncounted centuries that came before the recorded history, The Dragons ravaged the countryside. Waging war against humankind and driving them before their might. The humans could not stand against such force. Some of these humans would come to worship the dragons but all feared them.
(Pass on the spoiler for now, come back and read it maybe)
Spoiler
"Thousands years ago, lost in the uncounted centuries that came before the recorded history, The Dragons ravaged the countryside. Waging war against humankind"
Maybe I was right?
Maybe I was right?
The Dragons were banished from the world of Nirn a thousand years ago, as revealed by GI. How or why is unknown to us yet but part http://media1.gameinformer.com/images/site/pages/esv/images/info2.jpg on Alduin's Wall gives us a clue.
This cryptic image tells of Alduin’s fall to humanity’s ingenuity and bravery, but more than that is not known. This piece of the puzzle would be incredibly important to understand for someone new who might hope to defeat the dragons once again. Who are the individuals standing against Alduin? How did they expel the dreaded beast from the world? Perhaps the re-emergent Dragonborn will uncover the answers.
The Elder Scrolls prophesized the return of the dragons. The signs of their return was laid out in predictions. The shattering of the Staff of Chaos (TES: Arena), the appearance of Numidium (Daggerfall), the events at Red Mountain (Morrowind), and the Oblivion Crisis (Oblivion). The last event the Elder Scrolls foretold would happen is the citizens of Skyrim turning against each other in civil war, which is happening at the beginning of the game. With the Fourth Era begun, the sons of Skyrim “spill their own blood”, as described by the Blade named Esbern within the announcement trailer. This final terrible event heralds Alduin’s ultimate arrival. As The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim begins, the high king of Skyrim has been murdered. Many within the northern country wish to secede from the crumbling empire, which has been on the decline for 200 years since the fall of the Septim Dynasty. Other Skyrim citizens insist the Empire is still worth fighting for. Conflict between the two sides seems inevitable.
Lesser dragons are already flying free around Skyrim. These Dragons are a regular threat in the game world. They ravage towns and you'll have to face them repeatedly in single combat. Be careful for they wield astounding power.
Long ago a force existed that expelled the dragons. The Dragonborn. These individuals can wield the same mighty power as the dragons themselves and battle them on another level. These Dragonborns are anointed by the gods so they could light the dragonfires to become empire. Such as Alessia, Reman, and Tiber Septim. These powerful figures were supported by the Dragonguards, later called the Blades. After the dragons retreated long ago they came to guard one ancestry of the Dragonborn, the Septim emperors. After the events of Oblivion they are wiped out and the dragonguards have been hunted down and nearly destroyed. Not to mention there has been no Dragonborn in decades until YOU arrive.
As Skyrim begins, a lone prisoner begins to learn that he may be the one Dragonborn destined to save mankind.
The prophecy depicted on Alduin’s Wall is dire, but it is not without hope. A single individual, gifted with the same incredible powers held by the dragons themselves, may rise to fight against Alduin and assure the world’s survival. The Blades shown http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3593710/Skyrim-Wallpaper2.png bow before the Dragonborn. They’ve protected the line of the Dragonborn for generations in anticipation of this moment, when a Dragonborn would rise to face Alduin upon his return.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=qeS_lbTd4Ws&vq=medium
Dragons in The Elder Scrolls Lore:
Todd Howard was quoted saying, "We have a different take on Dragons. So on one hand we like fantasy and we like Dragons. We always wanted to see [Dragons] done really well in a game. So we're trying that now. But the way they classically have a dragon and he breathes fire. Well now our dragons are speaking in this ancient language, or this dragon language, that creates fire..."
So clearly they wanted to take the classic view of Dragons and "twist it a bit where it still familiar to somebody but it does have it's own uniqueness to being Elder Scrolls and to the culture and lore of Elder Scrolls."
I'm confident the Dragons in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim will be the best dragons ever done in any video game yet!
Other interesting tidbits about dragons in Elder Scrolls Lore.
First, let me say that there isn't much info at all. Second, let me say that what's there could easily be retconned, as stuff has been before for the benefit of gameplay or a cool story. Third, let me say that, by the nature of the way ES lore works, it's hard to get any concrete idea of what has happened in history. There's the disclaimer.
- Dragons are rumored to be able to shapeshift into human forms.
- At one time, dragons flourished in Vvardenfell (Morrowind), being drawn to the comfort of the warmth in Red Mountain. These Dragons were pushed out of Vvardenfell by the Cliffracers. In short, the cliffracers came in and pushed the dragons out. It's believed that as the cliffracers grew in numbers (just as they appear to do in Morrowind, since they seem to pop up behind you every 8 seconds) it caused problems and eventually forced the Dragons to leave. At first, this was not a problem for dragons. They were actually pretty good eating. But soon enough the dragons found themselves in a losing battle over the territory. Food sources and dwellings became overrun and the dragons simply packed their bags and moved on. Even if they stuck around and killed the cliffracers off, the food would still be at a shortage.
Some say the dragons moved on closer to Cyrodil, and it may be for this reason that dragons are sacred to the Empire. The legends tell of their aid during wars in exchange for shelter. Where the dragons gained shelter the empire gained security, along with dragons from other parts of Tamriel. Dragons are or were very sacred to the Empire, and as long as the Empire protected the dragons, the dragons MUST offer services to the Empire, such as aiding and protecting the Imperial forces in war (Redguard, the fight for Stros M'kai). - http://www.imperial-library.info/content/general-elder-scrolls-weaseling. - More on dragons and their relationship to the empire. It is also hinted in Battlespire within a journal and in the remains, that the Imperial Battlemages used dragonmounts for security on the Battlespire. In level 1, you will find the remains of an Imperial dragon names Dragonne Papre' and his rider. http://www.imperial-library.info/content/battlespire-starlovers-logcontains tidbits about the troubles in the spire and what may have happened so that only their decayed bodies remain.
As far as the Empire actually being in alliance with dragon's, there are many hints that lead on to this. Lord Richton was able to summon the Imperial Dragon, http://www.imperial-library.info/content/nafaalilargus for support in the Battle of Stros M'kai. The Battlespire incident. - The avatar of the chief deity of the Nine Divines Akatosh, is a golden dragon. Its relation, if any, to the Tamrielic dragons is unknown - but many stories tell of Akatosh co-mingling with and organizing groups of dragons.http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Dragons .
- One of the continents, Akavir, use to have dragons but this population of Dragons, which consisted of red and black dragons, fled the continent of Akavir to the continent of Tamriel because they were being hunted and eaten by the Tsaesci people. SpoilerThe meaning of term "eaten" is not clear. Although it might suggest a literal meaning, it could be a metaphor for being subdued. In Mysterious Akavir by anonymous writer, the Tsaesci are told to have: "tried to eat all the Dragons. They managed to enslave the Red Dragons, but the black ones had fled to (then) Po Tun." “ When the Tsaesci supposedly tried to eat all the dragons in their Empire, the dragons fled to Po' Tun, as the empire of tiger people was called then. [The Ka Po'Tun are a race of tiger people that live on Akavir.] A great war raged across the land, leaving all the black dragons and all but a few red dragons dead. The remaining red dragons retreated to Tamriel, where they were supposedly given refuge in Cyrodiil. Ever since, the tiger people that remained have tried to somehow become dragons. Tosh Raka is the first one to succeed. Apparently he is the largest Dragon on Nirn, with orange and black coloring, and has built Ka Po' Tun into the largest empire of Akavir. He desires the destruction of Tsaesci, after which he intends to invade Tamriel.”
Kind of a sidepoint, but the Nerevarine (main character of Morrowind) was rumoured to have traveled to Akavir for some unknown reason. - If Alduin would be defeated rather then banished, as he was before, it would result in another http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Dragon_Break. A Dragon Break is a phenomenon where linear time is broken, and becomes non-linear. The Dragon refers to the God of Time (known by many names: Akatosh, Alduin, Auriel, Alkosh see Tamriel Gods).Spoilerhttp://www.imperial-library.info/content/dragon-break-studySpoiler
The Dragon Break: Section Five
Mannimarco, God of Worms, the Necromancers:
"The Three Thieves of Morrowind could tell you where they were. So could the High King of Alinor, who was the one who broke in the first place. There are others on this earth that could, too: Ysmir, Pelinal, Hans the Fox (but, then, this is really my warning to you, Arctus; I now know who you are). The Last Dwarf would talk, if they would let him. As for myself, I was here and there and here again, like the rest of the mortals during the Dragon Break. How do you think I learned my mystery? The Maruhkati Selective showed us all the glories of the Dawn so that we might learn, simply: as above, so below."
I take "'The Three Thieves of Morrowind'" to mean the Tribunal. "' High King of Alinor, who was the one who broke in the first place'" refers to Akatosh the first of the et'Ada to form an identity, bringing with him the concept of Time. I would think. And "'The Last Dwarf'" refers to Yagrum Bagarn who resides in the Divayth Fyr's Corprusarium.
Now the line, "'There are others on this earth that could, too: Ysmir, Pelinal, Hans the Fox (but, then, this is really my warning to you, Arctus; I now know who you are).'" According to The Imperial Library, during the Merethic Era, "An immortal hero, warrior, sorceror, and king variously known as Pelinal Whitestrake, Harrald Hairy Breeks, Ysmir, Hans the Fox, etc., wanders Tamriel, gathering armies, conquering lands, ruling, then abandoning his kingdoms to wander again" It appears that Mannimarco is claiming that The immortal hero, known by many names, is also Zurin Arctus (Tiber Septim's Battlemage and The Underking). (I EXPLAINED THIS IN http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1152130-the-story-behind-skyrim-v20/page__view__findpost__p__16863989) Which makes sense sense Pelinal Whitestrake, Harrald Hairy Breeks, Ysmir, and Hans the Fox are all known to be Shezzarines or Avatar for Lorkhan AKA Shor.
So they are basically saying you can ask Lorkhan The God of the Underworld http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1150358-skyrim-trailer-breakdown/page__st__100__p__16838257#entry16838257.
Finally, "'As for myself, I was here and there and here again, like the rest of the mortals during the Dragon Break. How do you think I learned my mystery? The Maruhkati Selective showed us all the glories of the Dawn so that we might learn, simply: as above, so below.'" This seems to fit into the theory of a shift or Warp in time.
Wow man, kudos for long thread! Really must of taken hours.
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amhain - Posts: 3506
- Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2007 12:31 pm
» Wed Aug 18, 2010 9:09 pm
Did you seriously just quote the entire first post?
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herrade - Posts: 3469
- Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2007 1:09 pm
» Thu Aug 19, 2010 1:18 am
A quick question for you, guys...
Dragons. Do they use dragonshouts to, y'know, do dragon stuff? Is breathing fire a dragonshout? Do they fly using dragonshouts?
So if I did the whole FUS RO DAH thing on them, could they do it back?
I'm thinking 'yes', since it's their language, but I'd like some kind of confirmation on this.
Dragons. Do they use dragonshouts to, y'know, do dragon stuff? Is breathing fire a dragonshout? Do they fly using dragonshouts?
So if I did the whole FUS RO DAH thing on them, could they do it back?
I'm thinking 'yes', since it's their language, but I'd like some kind of confirmation on this.
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Krystina Proietti - Posts: 3388
- Joined: Sat Dec 23, 2006 9:02 pm
» Wed Aug 18, 2010 3:14 pm
Yes, dragons use the shouts. I doubt they need them to fly, though.
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Sara Johanna Scenariste - Posts: 3381
- Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2007 8:24 pm
» Wed Aug 18, 2010 9:40 pm
Yes, dragons use the shouts. I doubt they need them to fly, though.
I guess that's what the wings are for haha.
So i'm guessing there's a dragonshout to incinerate everything in the immediate vicinity then.
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Veronica Martinez - Posts: 3498
- Joined: Tue Jun 20, 2006 9:43 am
» Wed Aug 18, 2010 5:00 pm
Did you seriously just quote the entire first post?
Yeah, I don't know what I was thinking lol.
Sorry all.
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Bek Rideout - Posts: 3401
- Joined: Fri Mar 02, 2007 7:00 pm
» Wed Aug 18, 2010 3:18 pm
Has anyone suggested http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqDIDMqxH1o for a fitting dragon voice actor yet?
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Latisha Fry - Posts: 3399
- Joined: Sat Jun 24, 2006 6:42 am
» Wed Aug 18, 2010 10:17 pm
I want dragon to have biohazard ballistic attacks from the sky after diggestion.
They come over you drop bombs if they hit they go away laughting.
Nothing is more cruel than demoralization.
They come over you drop bombs if they hit they go away laughting.
Nothing is more cruel than demoralization.
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Sarah Bishop - Posts: 3387
- Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2006 9:59 pm
» Wed Aug 18, 2010 6:42 pm
I guess that's what the wings are for haha.
So i'm guessing there's a dragonshout to incinerate everything in the immediate vicinity then.
So i'm guessing there's a dragonshout to incinerate everything in the immediate vicinity then.
It's a curious fact, but dragons in TES (at least Akatosh) are not able to fly just for having wings... their torsos are too big. I remember to have read it in a book.
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Lindsay Dunn - Posts: 3247
- Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 9:34 am
» Thu Aug 19, 2010 2:56 am
bump
Yep, they'll attack using different styles. Not all of the dragons will use just fire.
Same as dragonshouts, when you learn them they'll be different. Though from what i understand you learn the words to use in Dragonshouts from the ancient walls and just killing dragons and receiving their souls allows you to become more powerful and use more dragonshouts.
A quick question for you, guys...
Dragons. Do they use dragonshouts to, y'know, do dragon stuff? Is breathing fire a dragonshout? Do they fly using dragonshouts?
So if I did the whole FUS RO DAH thing on them, could they do it back?
I'm thinking 'yes', since it's their language, but I'd like some kind of confirmation on this.
Dragons. Do they use dragonshouts to, y'know, do dragon stuff? Is breathing fire a dragonshout? Do they fly using dragonshouts?
So if I did the whole FUS RO DAH thing on them, could they do it back?
I'm thinking 'yes', since it's their language, but I'd like some kind of confirmation on this.
Yep, they'll attack using different styles. Not all of the dragons will use just fire.
Same as dragonshouts, when you learn them they'll be different. Though from what i understand you learn the words to use in Dragonshouts from the ancient walls and just killing dragons and receiving their souls allows you to become more powerful and use more dragonshouts.
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Fanny Rouyé - Posts: 3316
- Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2007 9:47 am
» Thu Aug 19, 2010 3:42 am
It's a curious fact, but dragons in TES (at least Akatosh) are not able to fly just for having wings... their torsos are too big. I remember to have read it in a book.
I was under the impression that they were too heavy, not that they were too large. They even look heavy.
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Liv Staff - Posts: 3473
- Joined: Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:51 pm
» Thu Aug 19, 2010 2:45 am
Bump. Added new Info tidbits and a few new or rather officially released screenshots. Check it out.
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Kelly Tomlinson - Posts: 3503
- Joined: Sat Jul 08, 2006 11:57 pm
» Wed Aug 18, 2010 9:28 pm
Bump. Anyone find anything new, screens or concept art. I sorta fell behind in keeping up with all the updates.
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Eilidh Brian - Posts: 3504
- Joined: Mon Jun 19, 2006 10:45 am
» Wed Aug 18, 2010 5:35 pm
I hope that dragons are varied in attacks, forcing you to tailor your approach to each one perhaps getting a clue to their styles by questioning local villagers that have been terrorized. It'll add variety, require flexible skills and would make slaying the 50 or so dragons less of a chore and more like a challenge.
as a side note, i think all 50 dragons cant be epic fights surely? even using my idea above there are only so many permutations you can have
as a side note, i think all 50 dragons cant be epic fights surely? even using my idea above there are only so many permutations you can have
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Paul Rice - Posts: 3430
- Joined: Thu Jun 14, 2007 11:51 am
» Wed Aug 18, 2010 12:29 pm
It would really be dumb in my opinion if we could have dragon mounts.
It's something like having Vivec mount. -_-
Dragons should be something like demigods in my opinion and really hard to defeat, but not hard to the point where it just becomes a pain.
And I think that there should be lesser and elder dragons and that lesser ones should be strong, but not something too hard like elder dragons.
Also, even though I like several dragon powers mentioned there, I mine favorite is one with time control.
Even though, I would like to see a dragon power over plants and trees.
I think that it would be cool if we could have some nature magic in TES. :happy:
Edit:
Also, some stellar-like powers would be cool.
It's something like having Vivec mount. -_-
Dragons should be something like demigods in my opinion and really hard to defeat, but not hard to the point where it just becomes a pain.
And I think that there should be lesser and elder dragons and that lesser ones should be strong, but not something too hard like elder dragons.
Also, even though I like several dragon powers mentioned there, I mine favorite is one with time control.
Even though, I would like to see a dragon power over plants and trees.
I think that it would be cool if we could have some nature magic in TES. :happy:
Edit:
Also, some stellar-like powers would be cool.
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Unstoppable Judge - Posts: 3337
- Joined: Sat Jul 29, 2006 11:22 pm
» Wed Aug 18, 2010 11:55 am
I'm glad they look like the Dragons from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wg7bjwEXp7Y and not http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxjSHwknH8U. :celebration:
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Mistress trades Melissa - Posts: 3464
- Joined: Mon Jun 19, 2006 9:28 pm
» Wed Aug 18, 2010 1:17 pm
If Alduin would be defeated rather then banished, as he was before, it would result in another Dragonbreak.
Why? The other Dragon Breaks correspond with apotheosis.
And what is the difference between defeat and banishment?
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Sabrina garzotto - Posts: 3384
- Joined: Fri Dec 29, 2006 4:58 pm