Serana is a vampire from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Introduced in the Dawnguard DLC, her history is steeped in tragedy, ambition, and the dark dealings of an ancient and powerful vampire clan.

Origins and Early Life

Serana was born in the late Merethic Era, (around 4,200 years ago according to my research) long before the rise of the Septim Empire. She was the daughter of Lord Harkon and Valerica, two members of the powerful Nord nobility. Her family ruled over a vast domain, and her early years were spent in privilege within Castle Volkihar, a towering fortress on a remote island off the northern coast of Skyrim.

Though she was raised in luxury, Serana’s upbringing was anything but normal. Her father, Lord Harkon, was a man obsessed with power and feared mortality. He was once a mighty Nord chieftain and warrior-king, but as he aged, the thought of death gnawed at him. Harkon sought any means to preserve his rule and his life, and in his desperation, he and Valerica made a terrible bargain.

They turned to Molag Bal, the God of Schemes, the Daedric Prince of Domination, and the Father of Vampires. Harkon, Valerica, and Serana underwent a dark ritual, becoming some of the first pure-blooded vampires—called the Daughters and Sons of Coldharbour. This transformation granted them incredible power and near-immortality, but it also cost them their humanity. Serana, still young, had little choice in the matter. She was forever bound to darkness.

After their transformation, the Volkihar clan expanded its influence, feeding upon mortals and warring with rival vampire sects. Harkon, now a Vampire Lord, ruled with ruthless ambition, while Valerica maintained a more strategic mind. Unlike her father, who saw mortals as mere cattle, Serana struggled with her new existence. She had been raised a Nord, a people who valued honor, but she was now something unnatural in their eyes.

The Prophecy and Serana’s Imprisonment

At the height of their power, Harkon uncovered an ancient prophecy recorded in the Elder Scrolls. The prophecy, known as the Tyranny of the Sun, foretold that a vampire who obtained the blood of a Daughter of Coldharbour and wielded Auriel’s Bow could block out the sun forever. If fulfilled, it would grant vampires dominion over Nirn, plunging the world into eternal night.

Harkon became obsessed with this prophecy. He believed it was his destiny to fulfill it, but Valerica saw it as a madman’s dream. She knew what such power would do to him—and to the world. Fearing the consequences, she took matters into her own hands.

Valerica stole the Elder Scroll needed for the prophecy and fled to the Soul Cairn, a desolate plane of Oblivion ruled by the Ideal Masters. Before she left, she hid Serana away in a secure tomb, placing her in a magical sleep. The purpose was twofold: to keep Serana out of Harkon’s reach and to prevent him from completing the prophecy.

Serana was sealed within Dimhollow Crypt, a forgotten and ancient Nordic tomb, entombed for centuries while the world outside changed. She was aware of time passing but unable to act. She did not know what had become of her mother, father, or the Volkihar clan.

The Awakening

Serana remained in her slumber for an untold number of years, which was long enough for the Empire of the Nords to fall, for the Dragonborn prophecy to rise, for the Oblivion Crisis to pass her by, and for the Skyrim of her time to become the Skyrim of the Fourth Era. When she was finally awakened, it was by the Dragonborn—the protagonist of the game—who stumbled upon her tomb while investigating vampire activity for the Dawnguard or by accident.

Disoriented but aware of the danger she was in, Serana’s first concern was returning to Castle Volkihar. She did not know if her father still lived, nor did she know if her mother’s plan had succeeded. What she did know was that she was one of the last of her kind—one of the last Daughters of Coldharbour.

Her awakening marked the beginning of a new conflict, one that would decide the fate of the prophecy, the Volkihar clan, and the world itself.

Serana’s Personality and Struggles

Serana’s long isolation deeply affected her. She is cautious, intelligent, and weary of trust, yet she is not as ruthless as other vampires. Unlike her father, who embraces his monstrous nature, Serana retains some sense of morality. She does not kill needlessly, nor does she revel in destruction like many of the Volkihar.

She also struggles with her identity. Having spent her early years as a Nord, she remembers what it was like to be human. But she is also a creature of the night, a being who will never again walk in the sunlight without fear. She carries resentment toward her parents—toward Harkon for his obsession and toward Valerica for sealing her away, even if it was meant to protect her.

Serana is one of the few vampires who questions the worth of immortality. Over the course of Dawnguard, she can choose to reject vampirism entirely, seeking a way to reclaim her lost humanity and become mortal. Unlike most of her kind, she is not blinded by the lust for power, making her a unique figure in Skyrim’s world.

Conclusion

Serana’s story is one of loss, betrayal, and survival. She is a daughter torn between two warring parents, a vampire who questions the very nature of her existence. Whether she remains in darkness or steps into the light is left to the Dragonborn’s influence, but her past remains a haunting reminder of what it means to be immortal.

Content Warnings: if you know the world of Skyrim you know what to expect. Violence, foul language, alcohol for sure, and Serana’s backstory. User discretion is advised!

(Art by AyyaSAP)

Intro is based off of when you meet Serana for the first time in the game which you can find here. Shoutout to Bethesda! https://youtu.be/-cvmtt71HaU?si=azanQ-2l3SKCUmDb

Music! The Elder Scrolls 'Peace in Tamriel' (A Relaxing Music Compilation) (Morrowind, Oblivion & Skyrim) by MaidArgonianLusty with music by Jeremy Soule. https://m.soundcloud.com/maidargonianlusty/the-elder-scrolls-peace-in-tamriel-a-relaxing-music-compilation-morrowind-oblivion-skyrim?in=bloodknife97xx%2Fsets%2Fdnd

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I've hit context but I want to continue my Rp! Am I out of luck?

•   No my friend, you're not! You just have to do a little bit of surgery.

•   This is the chat transplant method:

•   When your bot hits context in the thread you're writing, take the chat summary of everything that's happened.

•   Remember this should be the highlights.
  Think of it like a DBZ recap "Last time on Dragon Ball Z..."

•   You're going to paste this into a new chat with the same bot.

•   Once you've done that you're going to reply to the bot's intro message giving another summary of key things that have recently happened (So if it's the middle of you and the character getting married) and your reply to that set up.

•   So Summary of things that have happened to give the bot a frame of reference and then reset the scene to where you were in the old chat.

•   This works pretty well! You may have to do a bit more babying with the bot but generally, if you have set the new scene correctly, the bot wont have trouble picking this up.

•   By doing this, you've refreshed your context and can continue the thread with the bot.

^ Thanks to m00nprincess/FunFatale for this!