Appearing in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim as a group of dragon hunters, the Blades actually made their debut in the very first Elder Scrolls game and have appeared in every mainline entry in the series since Arena. In the past, the Blades were a powerful group of warriors who protected the hierarchy of the Empire with their lives, but by the Fourth Era, they had become a shadow of their former selves.
As some Skyrim players haven't experienced previous games in the Elder Scrolls series, they won't know much of the backstory surrounding the Blades that is found in the likes of Morrowind and Oblivion, with their only knowledge of the group coming from Delphine and Esbern. Here are some interesting things you may not know about The Blades.
10 The Blades Were Also Known As The Imperial Intelligence Service
While they are most well known for their much more imposing title of the Blades, the group also went by the name The Imperial Intelligence Service. This is because, as well as serving as guardians for the current Dragonborn Emperor, they were also used to gather intelligence on the goings-on of the Empire's potential enemies.
This role is what led the Empire to see the Thalmor as a legitimate threat and, in turn, why the Thalmor chose to eradicate them so thoroughly.
9 Their Role Is To Serve The Dragonborn
While Delphine and Esbern are dead-set on ensuring the death of every dragon in existence, their true role as a Blade is to serve the player character, as well as any other Dragonborn they come across.
While this does mean that they should be willing to go to any lengths the player wishes them to, it also brings into question who much the pair actually take this role seriously, as asking that the player kill Paarthunax and refusing to help them if they don't goes against their duties as a Blade.
8 The Blades Was Founded In The Second Era
Before many of the territories in Tamriel were united under the banner of Tiber Septim in the Second Era, there was no such group as the Blades, despite there being multiple Dragonborn rulers before his time. Once Tiber Septim formed his great Empire, however, they were founded in order to keep the future god-king safe and in power, as well as his successors.
Unfortunately, once the Septim Dynasty ended, the Blades were quickly killed off by the Thalmor in order to give them a better time at taking over the regions that were once ruled by the Empire.
7 They Have Been Replaced By The Penitus Oculatus
After the death of the Septim Dynasty with Martin Septim's sacrifice during the Oblivion Crisis, there was a power play from Tidus Mede to claim the Empire for himself. Since most of the Blades died in the Great War, there was very little of the Septim Dynasty remaining by the events of Skyrim.
While the Blades had been disbanded, the new Empire wasn't without its guarding forces and formed the Penitus Oculatus in its place, serving much the same function as the Blades, minus the dragon-slaying.
6 The Blades Foresaw The Threat Of The Thalmor
While many other races and regions saw the Thalmor as nothing but an irritating fringe group, even among their own kind with the High Elves and Wood Elves, the Blades were quick to see that they weren't all talk and had some serious power behind their words.
They quickly warned the Empire of the threat that the Thalmor would pose, who took their intelligence very seriously, though this wasn't enough to prevent them from being all but wiped out during the Great War.
5 The Thalmor Also Recognized The Threat That The Blades Posed To Them
Not only did the Blades see the true threat of the Thalmor, but the Thalmor also recognized the danger that the Blades presented in their endeavors, even without the backing of the Septim Dynasty behind them.
Not only were the Blades excellent at gathering intelligence, but their vast history as a group who worked closely with the Empire also meant that they knew secrets, about both the Empire and the newly created Aldmeri Dominion, that they couldn't afford to be made public.
4 They Have Appeared In Every Mainline Elder Scrolls Game
Although the Blades' most prominent roles have been in the main story of both Oblivion and Skyrim, they have appeared in every mainline Elder Scrolls title in some form or another since the very first game, Arena.
They were usually shown as the Emperor's guard in some capacity, with them being notably present at the assassination of Uriel Septim in Oblivion, but the large time skip between Oblivion and Skyrim meant that this role was relegated to the Imperial Legion, Stormcloaks, or the Penitus Oculatus instead.
3 A Unique Blades Sword Can Be Found In Bloated Man's Gotto
If players return to Bloated Man's Grotto after they have completed the Daedric Prince quest Ill Met By Moonlight, or if they manage to find the dungeon before this, they can find a unique Blades sword called Bolar's Oathblade.
This sword and the pedestal it sits on disappear during the quest but reappear once it has been completed so that the player can take it for themselves. While the sword isn't particularly strong, having the same base damage as an Elven Sword, it does have a unique combination of Stamina Damage and a Fear effect that can help the player cut down enemies that would normally run after being attacked.
2 Talos Is The Patron Deity Of The Blades
Many guilds and groups in the Elder Scrolls have their own patron deity, such as the Dark Brotherhood's worship of Sithis and the Night Mother, though this also extends to the Blades, whose patron deity is Talos.
This makes sense since Talos, as of the events of Skyrim, is merely Tiber Septim in God form, the first of the Septim Dynasty that the Blades were tasked with protecting.
1 They Have Temples In Most Regions Ruled By The Empire
Before the dissolution of the Empire following the Oblivion Crisis, the Empire itself was spread into many different regions of Tamriel and forced the Blades to set up temples in each region ruled under the Septim banner.
In Skyrim, this takes the form of Sky Haven Temple, a dilapidated temple that the player must explore during the story to find Alduin's Wall, which depicts the rise and fall of the Eater of Worlds so that the Last Dragonborn can defeat him.