| “ | This is our fight and this is our fate! This is the time of the Dawnguard!
— Isran
|
” |
The Dawnguard are an ancient order of vampire hunters in Skyrim, founded in the Second Era by the Jarl of Riften. The Jarl's son contracted vampirism during his adventures, and rather than kill him the Jarl constructed Fort Dawnguard. In the fort, he hired a large mercenary company to quarantine and protect his son, braning them as the Dawnguard as their duties soon expanded to the vampire hunters in the region. Over time, the Dawnguard developed a once proud reputation before disbanding for mysterious reasons. Some claim that they simply faded into obscurity as the threat of vampirism receded, while others claimed that they became local warlords or even vampires themselves until they were hunted down.
Regardless of how they lost their prestige, the Dawnguard had become irrelevant by the Fourth Era. By 4E 201, vampire attacks began to resurface in Skyrim. Isran, a former Vigilant of Stendarr, learned of this and revived the ancient order of vampire hunters. Over time, Isran built a small band of vampire hunters that included the Dragonborn, who helped to reestablish the respect and prestige of the order. The Dawnguard soon learned what the source of these new threats were; the Volkihar Clan and their efforts to fulfill the Tyranny of the Sun. With Isran and the Dragonborn leading them, the Dawnguard once again fought to protect Skyrim from the undead.
Battle vs. Grey Wardens (by MovieStuff65)[]
"Are we there yet?" a young dwarven woman asks, adjusting the greatsword on her back as she and four of her fellow Wardens push through the dark tunnels of the Deep Roads. "We should've hit the surface by now."
Their leader turns to face her, the torch in his hand illuminating his rugged skin and coarse black hair. "Quiet down, Recna," Loghain Mac Tir says, slow and deliberate. "It is only a bit further." He turns back and continues leading, smiling as he finally feels the wall give away as the corner turns. He spots a sliver of light a distance away, nodding as the others arrived and let out sighs of relief. "As I said."
The Grey Wardens walk out to the cave, ease turning to confusion as they find themselves greeted by a harsh cold and a thick forest. "This isn't Orlais," one Warden says, just as the distinctive thwack of a crossbow sounds in the valley and a bolt places itself between his legs.
"Intruders! What business do you have at Fort Dawnguard!" Isran yells from a raised sentry platform, arms crossed as four Dawnguard soldiers take their places below, crossbows loaded. The Wardens respond by drawing their swords, hefting their tower shields as their mage companion huddles behind them.
"We are the Grey Wardens! We mean you no harm," Loghain yells, nodding subtly at the elven companion behind him, who draws an arrow from his quiver.
"I have not heard of your order before. Your oaths mean nothing to me," Isran responds, noticing the movement. "Relinquish your weapons at once and submit to questioning, or we will fell you where you stand."
"Well, that's not very polite," Loghain mutters, reluctantly looking at his soldiers. "Perhaps we could parlay? Surely we can come to an agreement."
Isran shakes his head, turning around and whistling behind him. A roar and thundering steps break the relative silence, as an armored troll emerges from the woods and walks towards the group. "By the Maker..." the mage says, quickly slamming his staff down as a magical glowing barrier surrounds the group.
"Dawnguard! To battle!"
Dawnguard: 
x 5
Grey Wardens: 
x 5
"Wardens! Shields!" Loghain yells, two of his companions joining him as they form a small wall around their ranged fighters. A volley of crossbow bolts slam into the shields, with their archer quickly returning firing as he draws his bow and looses an arrow. It pierces into the shoulder of a Dawnguard warrior, who grunts in pain as he drops the crossbow. The mage raises his staff, and three bolts of fire fly into the same Dawnguard. The barrage sears past his armor, and the man dies in a vain attempt to put the flames out.
The troll closes the distance as more crossbow bolts and arrow fly between the groups, swinging its fists into the shield wall. Loghain and Recna stumble in one direction, while their companion screams in terror as the troll slams both his fists down, caving his breastplate in and sending shards of blood and steel into the air. The pair swiftly stand, Loghain darting in with a thrust of his longsword as Recna draws her greatsword. The mage casts another barrier over the group as the archer retreats.
Rolling to avoid more bolts, the human archer draws and looses two more arrows, each hitting a Dawnguard squarely in the chest. "Get the archer and wizard!" Isran yells, with one of his soldiers dropping his crossbow and drawing his axe. "You're dying today!" The Nord woman yells, only to receive an arrow to the throat for her trouble. Isran groans, putting his warhammer in his hand as his last foot soldier goes with both shield and axe to engage.
Loghain deftly sidesteps another swing from the troll, slashing once again at its wrist and grimacing as the flesh beneath the fur knits itself back together. Recna pants as she follows up with another hack, attempting to follow through on Loghain's strike. "Take this damned thing down!" Loghain yells as he looks at the mage Warden. Another flurry of fireballs slam into its chest, charring the fur and forcing a yell of pain from the troll. The smell of burning oil catches the veteran Warden's nose, and he smiles. "Burn it!" He yells, looking at Recna and nodding at the two advancing Dawnguard.
Isran charges the approaching dwarf, raising the haft of his hammer to block a swing from her greatsword. He shoves her back, before swinging downward to crush her as she falls back. She sidesteps, winding back her sword for another attack, but screams as Isran raises his warhammer faster and smashes it into her leg. She falters to her knee, before Isran follows with an upswing, lifting her into the air as the head slams into her chin and kills her immediately.
The archer drops his bow, awkwardly drawing his longsword as the Dawnguard hacks the arrows from his shield. "Let's see how you do in a real fight, Thalmor scum!" The Dawnguard yells, causing the elf to raise an eyebrow in momentary confusion as he parries the axe. He steps forward, slamming his shoulder into the surprised vampire hunter, before thrusting his blade into his gut. As the Warden looks around, a scream of pain echoes as the troll falls, several stab wounds and burn marks covering its body. The momentary distraction allows the dying Dawnguard one final strike, burying his axe in his skul.
Isran looks at his dead allies, as the mage transforms into a misty shape as he Fade Steps away, chilling the leader of the Dawnguard and freezing him in place. Loghain dashes at the thawing Isran, who only glares. "Your men died because of you. Their death is on your hands." Loghain says curtly, before swinging his longsword and decapitating the last Dawnguard.
WINNER: Grey Wardens
Expert's Opinion[]
When all else was even, with the Warden's greater training being countered by the Dawnguard's more proactive experience, it comes down to equipment. This is where the Wardens took a decisive edge, with more durable armor and versatile weapons taking the day over the Dawnguard's. Even with a troll at their side, the Dawnguard lacked the means to put down the Wardens before a mage's fire blast or lucky arrow or sword did the job first.