Now before I start, I know in the game the Dragonborn can be any race, but I'm talking about in lore, not your game.

In Skyrim, It seems like it makes the most sense for the Dragonborn to be a Nord, since the game takes place in the home of the Nords, and the whole thing sort of revolves around Nordic beliefs and prophecies. Plus the Dragonborn was portrayed as a Nord in all the pre-release stuff.

But the Septims were all Dragonborn, their dragon blood was what gave the Septim line their power to be emperors. Anyone who has played Oblivion a lot should know this. And Tiber Septim was the first of these Dragonborn emperors, so I'd always assumed he was an Imperial, just like the rest of the Septims. That would make sense right?

But in Skyrim it seems like the Nords believe Tiber Septim was a Nord... which would make sense in relation to my first part about the Dragonborn being a Nord. But if Tiber Septim was a Nord, how did he produce a line of Imperials? So are the Nords wrong, and was Tiber Septim an Imperial, meaning it would make sense for the Dragonborn to be an Imperial?

I guess I'm just pretty confused about the whole thing... Does anyone else have thoughts on the matter?

There is no canon race for the DB. We can assume he/she was nord, but that's only going with the first guess. In lore, his/her's race will be lost to history

Khajit

Tiber Septim was a Nord. I dont know much about lore, but Tiber Septim would have produced a line of Imperials by having kids with Imperial women. In TES a child takes the race of the mother. Being dragonborn is not a genetic thing. It is a gift from Akatosh or something. Anyone can be Dragonborn.

At least part nord.. Grandpa, parent, something

sload

jking the dragonborn can be any race, becuase unlike the septims the dragonborn doesnt have the blood of a dragon they have the soul of one

That makes the most sense of anything I've heard so far, but if it isn't genetic, then why was the entire septim line Dragonborn? If anyone can be Dragonborn, I don't see why it happened to an entire family, and then one guy 200 years later. Maybe I'm just thinking too hard about this.

It can be any race of Tamriel.



Because they were awesome? Besides, the Septim Line is descended from Tiber Septim's cousin, not the big T himself.

Why part nord?

There is a book somewhere that clears this all up.. i think it actually is called "The Dragonborn" and it has the Empire Dragon symbol on it.. basically, even though the Septims where called Dragonborn, it is sort a misconcepted title. Tiber Septim has ever only been the actual Dragonborn (apart from the player character), his family just sort of took on the name, the only reason they are able to wear the Amulet of Kings is not because they have the soul of a dragon, but because there familys line was blessed by Akatosh's blood, and as long as they keep faithful to there Dragon blood blessing, they will still be able to wear the Amulet. But back on topic, they are not ACTUAL Dragonborn like Tiber Septim was, it was just a title that sort of stuck, the fact that he was destined to be born with the soul of a dragon and the blessing of his family line are two seperate events and circumstances. So in real.. anyone can be born with the soul of a dragon, but only Tiber and the character of Skyrim was Dragonborn, as the gods needed them to save/change the world in times of great need.

Backstory does say that Thu'um is definitely a nordic art. But running around, chopping off serpentheads, drinking their spiritblood, and then suddenly Talk-Shouting like them? That could be any race.

Nords simply copied them. Long crazy years of practice

Tiber septim was a nord I think.He came from atmora and grew up in skyrim.i might be wrong

ORC! muahahahahaha!

Altmer, because Altmer are genetically superior to everyone else.


How it has to do with Dragonborn, I don't know.

I love the Elder Scrolls lore ever since each ancient story like this is shrouded in mystery. Some say that Tiber Septim is nord born in Atmora, some say he was just born somewhere in Tamriel and let's not even begin with how he became a god .

For what I've understood so far, everyone can be a Dragonborn as long as Akatosh or whoever god involved into this do the right thing and puts a dragon soul in you. My understanding from the book of the Dragonborn is that wearing the Amulet of Kings and performing the appropriate signs and prayer at the Temple of the One makes you Dragonborn, as long as you have some modicum of legitimacy. But it's far from being clear. What's in my head very clear however, is that Skyrim's player character is a very serious contender for the Imperial throne.

The imperials are descended from the Nords. Tiber Septim was the first to unite all of Tamriel and that began the 3rd empire of men and the 3rd Era.

Nords originally came from Atmora. They were the first race of man to come to Tamriel. Ysgramor came from Atmora in the First Era and after the Night of Tears he fled back to his home land and came back with 500 companions to war with the Snow Elves.

These are the men who became known as the Nords. Tiber Septim was a Nord and the founder of the Cyrodiilic Empire. His line ended with Martin Septim in Oblivion.

Ohhh ok, that makes sense!


Stupid Thalmor...

Tiber septim was a nord, at least in ancestry. The nords racial ability is even a type of shout.

So Imperials are descended from Nords?

but the septims have no living heirs so dovahkiin cant be a descendent of them

Being Dragonborn os a gift from Akatosh, it has nothing to do with heritage.

And Thomas Jefferson didn't have kids with his slaves.

It just feels like a cheap workaround by Bethesda so you could play any race in skyrim.

I don't see a problem to be honest - Science says that every human race on earth is descended from a group of apes that came out of Africa. Just look at the difference in appearance between people coming from Europe, Asia and Africa, and the difference between Nords and Imperials doesn't seem that bad.

Alternatively, all the DNA evidence indicates that Fijians came from Taiwan.