Arvel the Swift
Race	Dunmer
Gender	Male
Level	1
Class	Thief
Faction	Bandits
Rank	Citizen
Ref ID	00039655
Base ID	00039646

"Yes, the claw. I know how it works. The claw, the markings, the door in the Hall of Stories. I know how they all fit together!"

―Arvel the Swift^[src]

Arvel the Swift is a Dunmer thief, found trapped in a spider web at Bleak Falls Barrow. Arvel wears a full set of Hide Armor.

QuotesEdit

• " Help me down, and I'll show you. You won't believe the power the Nords have hidden there."
• "Now cut me down!!"
• "You fool, why should I share the treasure with anyone?"

InteractionsEdit

The Dragonborn finds Arvel trapped in a spider's web, and he asks to be freed. After killing the spider, the Dragonborn hacks away at the web constraining Arvel. A Flames spell can also be used to burn the webs and it will not harm Arvel. As soon as he is freed, he attempts to escape through the dungeon. The Dragonborn must then chase after Arvel, kill him, and retrieve the Golden Claw. If the Dragonborn chooses not to kill him, however, he is killed by the Draugr, becomes hostile or triggers a trap in the adjoining room.

Upon searching Arvel's corpse, Arvel's Journal can be found. This journal is useful in the quest The Golden Claw. The claw is required to progress further into the barrow.

Sometimes after killing the first few Draugr in the room with the spike wall trap, he may become hostile for no reason.

QuestsEdit

• The Golden Claw

TriviaEdit

• When the Dragonborn approaches, Arvel mistakes him for a member of his gang. He calls out to Harknir, Bjorn, and Soling, the three bandits the Dragonborn killed in order to reach Arvel. He will betray you if you free him.
• You can get the Golden Claw without killing him by pickpocketing him after you get him down from the web.

AppearancesEdit

• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (First appearance)