Blades
The Emperor's bodyguards, spies and dragon hunters.
The Blades are the Imperial bodyguards of the Septim emperors and, in The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, a secret group of spies and agents working for the Emperor and the Empire; Caius Cosades inducts the player into them on the Emperor's orders. In The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion they escort Uriel Septim VII when he flees his assassins, their captain is cut down, and Cloud Ruler Temple is their stronghold in Cyrodiil, where Martin is recognised as emperor and given command of the Blades.
Lore & Background
In Daggerfall the Blades work to rebuild the Numidium for the Empire. By the time of Skyrim they are known as dragon hunters, and Delphine and Esbern are two of their last members. The Elder Scrolls: Blades, in early access from March 27, 2019 and released for Android, iOS and Nintendo Switch in May 2020, casts the player as a Blade who returns home to find their town destroyed; by then the order has been outlawed, disbanded, slaughtered and driven into exile after the Great War.
More in Factions & Organizations
Elsewhere in The Elder Scrolls
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