What causes the Draugr to come to life now? They've been in their tombs for thousands of years and remained there. Why, when the Dragonborn approaches, do they throw off their coffin lids and come out to play? Are we really the first people to enter the tombs in those millennia? Or is their reawakening linked to the return of the Dragons?

Just curious if anyone knows - I like to have reasons behind things.

Don't you wake up when someone comes clomping into your bedroom?

You are just interfering with their sleepy time

we're the first. most of the lairs & stuff are locked before I go in, and when they aren't, I usually see a few draughr bodies on the floor, an adventurer body on the floor, and a restless draughr wandering about.

The other adventurers in the recent millenia are the dead bodies littering the floor from said Draugr who woke up then, and are again now.

I kinda just assume everyone in Skyrim is a [censored] and won't go outside of their town. Therefore I'm the first person to awake these Draugr and survive to tell about it. The people you do see in ruins are either dead or following you...

Makes sense to me. (If you stretch the imagination)

i just figured the draugr pulled their coffins closed when they take a nap :shurg:

Sometimes there are living people called Necromancers.

I thought it had to do with the Dragon Priests. The Druagr were dragon worshiping Nords, no? The return of the Dragons brough the return of their Dragon Priests and Druagr, IMO.

Well actually Draugr are guards of the Tombs. They are protecting their resting place and the grave goods.

It's this sort of thing I was considering. The ancient nords worshipped dragons, and after their return arise to answer their call and serve them again. Doesn't seem too unlikely.

An alternate theory: Ancient Mages protected the tombs with curses and spells so that if a grave robber should attempt to enter the tomb and steal it's treasures, the dead would awaken and defend it.

Courage!

So I have a question on Draugr. Why do some wake up and others dont? Like some are like they are dead.

There's a book about this in-game. The draugr wake and sleep in shifts to maintain and defend the tombs.

Maybe they are retired?

Ah, a book! Do you recall the name of it? I'll have to seek out a copy.

I think that book describe the tombs as prisons for these dragon worshipping Nords ? I remember the bit describing the traps and sealed doors as something meant to keep mindless undead inside as much as keeping tomb raiders out.

Anyway, from that I figured they were indeed cursed to remain as guards of these tombs.

What I don't get from that though is why spend so much effort building these elaborate decorative halls of the dead for a bunch of dragon worshippers ? Assuming the victorious dragon slaying nords buried them ?

Yes There is a Book, sorry I dont remember the name. no the Draugr aren't always up and about, and no they didn't normally get up when you walked by. Some intense ruins did but most slumbered until the Dragon priest beckoned for Soul energy (given to them by the Draugr in small amounts) these "tombs" well many of the "tombs" are actually homes/living spaces. how do you think offerings are made? the Draugr didnt normally get up in hoards like they do now. can bet on the return of Alduin etc etc


I simply Yol Tor Them before I pass, kills them instantly.

No worries, finding it is part of the fun And yeah, I figured they might have a connection to Alduin. Just doesn't seem right that they've been wondering the corridors for thousands of years before you show up and set them alight...