Khajiit (Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)

This article pertains to the Khajiit as depicted in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

Risaad, the leader of the Khajiit Caravans in Skyrim. It was his idea to seek profit amid the Civil War in Skyrim.

The Khajiit are a playable race in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

Lore in Game

The Narrative's Past

The earliest indication of Khajiit in Skyrim that one can find in game is the tomb known as Folgunthur, south east of the city of Solitude. The tomb is that of a Khajiit named Anurassa who resided in Skyrim during the time of the Dragon Cult's rule over the land. Her tomb would years latter be used to seal away the murderous mage Mikrul Gauldurson in the hopes that he and his deeds would be forgotten to history. Nothing else exists to indicate a Khajiit presence in Skyrim during that near mythic era. Eventually Elsweyr was conquered by Tiber Septim (later known as Talos) and made part of the Empire, a status it retained until the last of the line of Septim died. Like Argonia, Morrrowind, Valenwood, and the Shimmering Isles Elsweyr left the Empire sometime following the assassination of the last emperor of the Septim dynasty by the Cult of Mehrunes Dagon and the Oblivion Crisis that followed. While independent the province suffered during a celestial event in which the moons of Nirn vanished, preventing the Khajiit who rely on the lunar phases for reproduction, from doing so. The recently reformed Aldmerii Dominion consisting of the Shimmering Isles and Valenwood offered aid during this time and their magisters set about trying to solve the crisis. It's unclear if the Dominion actually did anything to bring the moons back, but the dominion took credit for doing so and Elsweyr joined the Aldmerii Dominion in gratitude. Not long after this the Great War began with Khajiit serving in the Dominion's armies, it's thought by some that the Khajiit provided the muscle that allowed the Dominion to advance into the Imperial City eventually leading to the signing of the White-Gold Concordant that ended the war on the condition that Talos worship be outlawed in the Empire and the Thalmor permitted to travel freely within it's borders to ensure that the ban is being enforced. The Khajiit role in the Great War has, combining with older sentiments, lead to their current treatment in Skyrim.

The Narrative's Present

While the player character creation description describes their homeland of Elsweyr as a province such is at the time of the game's narrative misleading as it suggests that as with previous Elder Scrolls games Elsweyr is an Imperial Province. In truth Elsweyr is a province of the Aldmerii Dominion as it left the Empire sometime following the death of Martin Septim and while independent was (allegedly) saved from a terrible lunar event by the Aldmerii Dominion and joined them prior to the Great War. In addition to older reasons for distrust between Khajiit and other races the majority of their population having citizenship in the Dominion adds a new layer to the distrust towards them in Skyrim- fearful of spies cities do not permit the caravans from Elsweyr into the city walls. On their end the Khajiit in Skyrim are actually not very pleased with the current state of the Dominion, feeling like second class citizens and disfavored compared to the Wood Elf and High Elf population given the Thalmor influence in the Dominion (the Thalmor seeking to re-establish Elven rule over Tamriel and thus not thinking highly of the Beastfolk nor races of Man). The most prominent Khajiit in Skyrim is Ri'saad who organized the Caravan expedition into the region- seeing an opportunity for profit during the Civil War in Skyrim.

Khajiit Characters

Khajiit Player Character

A Khajiit Dragonborn (the Player Character in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim) has an increased unarmed damage value and a power known as Night Eye. Night Eye allows the Dragonborn to see in the dark and the power must be manually activated by the player. During the game's initial events a Khajiit Dragonborn is asked by Hadvar if they are with one of the Caravans and then after Hadvar's commanding officer tells him to send the Dragonborn 'to the block' is assured their remains will be returned to Elsweyr. The player never hears nor reads the character's response to the initial question and thus the player is left to their imagination on a response or to conclude that none was given. The Caravan characters in the game do not recognize the player character and treats them as an outsider unfamiliar with the warm sands of Elsweyr. Even before being realized as Dragonborn the player character may travel to and enter any of Skyrim's cities. Like every Dragonborn character a Khajiit variant will also be unaware of Elsweyrs current situation and must learn such from NPCs. Like all Dragonborn characters the player character was trying to cross the border of Skyrim into Cyrodiil around the same time as the horse thief Lokr of Rorikstead and got caught up in an Imperial ambush and taken prisoner. These aspects suggest the Khajiit player character is an Imperial citizen. Socially the Khajiit option can make the character subject to being called 'cat' if they upset certain NPCs (such as by stealing from them) and while referred to properly as Khajiit by the Hold Guards can still hear a tone of distrust. They may join any of the factions any other player character can and have no unique dialogue options associated with being a Khajiit. Parthanaax is one of the few NPCs who will have something unique to say about the Dragonborn being a Khajiit.

Khajiit Non-Player Characters

As indicated in the book, Cats of Skyrim, a number of outlaw types such as bandits, thugs, and thieves are actually 'Elsweyr Outcasts' who do not wish to be found by their native authorities.

Imperial Citizens

• J'zargo, a student at the College of Winterhold who came from Cyrodiil to study because the mages where he was were too political for his liking.
• Kharjo, A Khajiit who was born in Elsywer but sent to Cyrodiil by his mother when Elsywer joined the Dominion. Was sent to an Imperial prison in adulthood after a brawl and freed from it by Caravanners from Elsywer. In gratitude Kharjo became a Caravan Guard.
• Ma'zaka, Keeper of Solitude's Lighthouse

Dominion Citizens

• Ahkari, Caravan Leader
• J'datharr, Thalmor Assassin who may be sent to kill Malborn after the quest "Diplomatic Immunity".
• Ma'dran, Caravan Leader
• Ri'saad, Caravan Leader
• Shavari, Thalmor Assassin and Spy who may be sent to kill the Dragonborn.