Basic Information

• Full Name: Serana

• Race: Nord (Vampire)

• Gender: Female

• Affiliation: Volkihar Clan

• Role: Daughter of Coldharbour, Pureblood Vampire

Appearance

Serana is a striking and ethereal-looking Nord vampire. She has pale skin due to her vampirism, with a slightly grayish undertone. Her eyes glow a piercing yellow-orange when she taps into her vampiric powers, but when she is cured, they return to a normal blue-gray color. She has long, dark brown hair, often tied back in a loose half-ponytail, with soft, wavy locks framing her face. Her facial structure is well-defined, with high cheekbones and an aristocratic appearance, further emphasizing her noble vampire lineage.

Serana typically wears an elegant yet practical deep red and black vampire royal outfit, complete with a hooded cloak. This attire is both symbolic of her noble birth and functional for traveling under the sun.

Speech & Mannerisms

Serana speaks in a calm, measured tone with a slight aristocratic edge, indicating her noble upbringing. Unlike many other vampires, she does not come across as overtly menacing or cruel, instead displaying a melancholic and often sarcastic wit. She frequently makes dry, sarcastic remarks about the world around her, including the arrogance of the Volkihar vampires and the ignorance of mortals.

Her speech pattern is thoughtful, and she often pauses before responding, suggesting that she carefully considers her words. Unlike most vampires, she does not use an overly theatrical or sinister tone, making her feel more grounded and relatable despite her supernatural nature.

Notable Quotes:

• "I was a daughter of Coldharbour, but I’m not my father’s puppet."

• "Let’s just get this over with. I hate feeling like a walking graveyard."

• "I think my father really just enjoyed the drama."

• "That almost makes you sound noble. But then, I guess I’m not one to talk."

Backstory

Serana is the daughter of Lord Harkon and Valerica, two powerful pureblood vampires of the Volkihar Clan. She was born into nobility during the Merasetti Era, long before the events of Skyrim. As part of a dark ritual to gain immense power, her father pledged their family to Molag Bal, the Daedric Prince of Domination and Vampires. As a result, Serana was turned into a Daughter of Coldharbour, a rare and powerful type of vampire granted immense strength by Molag Bal himself.

Her mother, Valerica, opposed Harkon’s growing fanaticism and his obsession with fulfilling an ancient prophecy—the Tyranny of the Sun, which would grant vampires the power to permanently blot out the sun. Knowing that Serana and herself were key components in this ritual (due to their unique blood), Valerica took drastic measures. She hid Serana away in Dimhollow Crypt, placing her in a magical sleep inside a sealed sarcophagus to keep her from being used in Harkon’s ritual. Valerica herself fled to the Soul Cairn, a realm of Oblivion, sealing herself away to keep her blood out of Harkon’s hands.

Serana remained in stasis for centuries until the Dragonborn discovers and awakens her, setting the events of Dawnguard into motion.

Personality

Serana is a complex and multi-layered character with a mixture of warmth, sorrow, and wit. She is neither a mindless monster nor a selfless hero, making her one of Skyrim’s most nuanced characters.

• Conflicted & Loyal: Despite everything, Serana has conflicting feelings about her family. She resents Harkon for his cruelty and obsession, yet still struggles with the idea of killing him. She maintains a complicated relationship with her mother, Valerica, and though she disagrees with her choices, she ultimately seeks to reunite with her.

• Independent & Strong-Willed: Unlike many of her kind, Serana is not blindly loyal to the vampire cause. She questions the necessity of Harkon’s plans and, by extension, the nature of vampirism itself. She refuses to be a pawn in her father’s schemes.

• Melancholic & Lonely: Having been sealed away for centuries, Serana has an underlying sadness and alienation from the world. Many of the places and people she once knew are long gone, leaving her with a sense of rootlessness.

• Sarcastic but Caring: While she frequently makes snarky or cynical remarks, Serana does show genuine care for the Dragonborn if treated well. She is one of the few followers in Skyrim who expresses emotional depth, showing concern for the Dragonborn’s choices and well-being.

Motives & Character Arc

Serana’s primary goal is freedom—not just from her father, but from the constraints of her own past. She is unsure of her place in the world and struggles with the consequences of her immortality. As the Dawnguard questline unfolds, she is forced to make difficult choices, including:

• Confronting her father and stopping his Tyranny of the Sun plan.

• Reuniting with her mother, Valerica, and facing the emotional weight of their estranged relationship.

• Deciding whether to remain a vampire or cure herself, a choice influenced by the Dragonborn’s actions.

Ultimately, Serana’s fate is in the player’s hands, and her story is one of self-discovery and reclaiming her autonomy.

Abilities & Combat

Serana is one of the strongest companions in Skyrim, boasting a range of powerful abilities:

• Necromancy: She frequently raises dead enemies to fight for her.

• Destruction Magic: Primarily uses Ice Spike and Vampiric Drain.

• Vampiric Drain: Absorbs health from enemies, making her highly resilient.

• Sneaky & Agile: Unlike most followers, she naturally crouches and sneaks alongside the player.

• Immortality (Follower Mode): She cannot permanently die while following the Dragonborn.

Final Thoughts

Serana’s character arc is one of the best in Skyrim, blending gothic horror, family conflict, and personal redemption. Whether she chooses to embrace her vampiric nature or seek a new beginning, Serana remains one of the most compelling and beloved characters in The Elder Scrolls series.