The NPCs on this list are considered "Essential" by the game. If any of them are killed at any time, you will receive a message stating:
"With this character's death, the thread of prophecy is severed. Restore a saved game to restore the weave of fate, or persist in the doomed world you have created."
In most cases, this means that you will be unable to complete the Main Quest without resorting to Killing Vivec. In the case of the [House] Hortator and [Clan] Nerevarine quests, however, you can bypass them by gaining level 21 or above and 50 or more reputation.
Note that, even after their part in the Main Quest is over (or, indeed, the Main Quest is complete), all these characters are still marked as essential and killing them will still give the above message. This will prevent any further gain of reputation via the quest Sleepers Awake, but is otherwise not a problem.
This list does not include NPCs who are essential to various side quests that are not part of the Main Quest scripting.
| NPC | Location | When Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Addhiranirr | Vivec, St. Olms Underworks | Until Vivec Informants is completed.* |
| Athyn Sarethi | Ald'ruhn, Sarethi Manor | Until Redoran Hortator is completed. |
| Blatta Hateria | Ebonheart | Until Mehra Milo and the Lost Prophecies is completed. |
| Caius Cosades | Balmora, Caius Cosades' House | He is always essential until he disappears at the beginning of Mehra Milo and the Lost Prophecies. |
| Crassius Curio | Vivec, Hlaalu Canton, Curio Manor | Until Hlaalu Hortator is completed. |
| Crazy Batou | Maren Ancestral Tomb | Crazy Batou is not actually essential, but he is marked as such by the game. There is no reason not to kill him, and good reason to do so, as he is wearing a valuable artifact on his head. |
| Danso Indules | Vivec, Temple Canton, outside | Until Hortator and Nerevarine is completed. |
| Divayth Fyr | Tel Fyr, Hall of Fyr | Until Corprus Cure is completed.* |
| Dram Bero | Vivec, St. Olms Canton, Haunted Manor | Until Hlaalu Hortator is completed. |
| Dutadalk | Ahemmusa Camp, Dutadalk's Yurt | Until Ahemmusa Nerevarine is completed. |
| Endryn Llethan | Vivec, High Fane | He is not directly related to any quest in the Main Quest, however, it is assumed that killing him will prevent you from completing Hortator and Nerevarine. |
| Falura Llervu | Tel Aruhn | Until Zainab Nerevarine is completed. |
| Garisa Llethri | Ald'ruhn, Llethri Private Quarters | Until Redoran Hortator is completed. |
| Gilvas Barelo | Holamayan Monastery | Until Mehra Milo and the Lost Prophecies is completed. |
| Goris the Maggot King | Venim Ancestral Tomb | Isn't needed for any quest, but vanilla versions of the game incorrectly mark him as essential. |
| Han-Ammu | Erabenimsun Camp, Han-Ammu's Yurt | Until Erabenimsun Nerevarine is completed. |
| Hasphat Antabolis | Balmora Guild of Fighters | Until Antabolis Informant is completed.* |
| Hassour Zainsubani | Ald'ruhn, Ald-Skar Inn | Until Zainsubani Informant is completed.* |
| Hlaren Ramoran | Ald'ruhn, Ramoran Private Quarters | Until Redoran Hortator is completed. |
| Huleeya | Vivec, Foreign Quarter, Black Shalk Cornerclub | Until Vivec Informants is completed.* |
| Kaushad | Zainab Camp, Ashkhan's Yurt | Until Zainab Nerevarine is completed. |
| Kausi | Ahemmusa Camp, Kausi's Yurt | Until Ahemmusa Nerevarine is completed. |
| Lord Cluttermonkey | Clutter Warehouse - Everything Must Go! | Although marked as essential, Lord Cluttermonkey can only be reached through Console codes and his death will have no effect on the main quest. |
| Luven | Venim Ancestral Tomb | Isn't needed for any quest, but vanilla versions of the game incorrectly mark him as essential. |
| Manirai | Erabenimsun Camp, Wise Woman's Yurt | Until Erabenimsun Nerevarine is completed. |
| Mehra Milo | Vivec, Library of Vivec | Until Mehra Milo and the Lost Prophecies is completed. |
| Miner Arobar | Ald'ruhn, Arobar Manor Bedrooms | Until Redoran Hortator is completed. |
| Mistress Brara Morvayn | Ald'ruhn, Morvayn Quarters | Until Redoran Hortator is completed. |
| Nevena Ules | Ascadian Isles Region [5,-7], Ules Manor | Until Hlaalu Hortator is completed. |
| Nibani Maesa | Urshilaku Camp, Wise Woman's Yurt | Until Urshilaku Nerevarine is completed. |
| Raesa Pullia | Buckmoth Legion Fort, Interior | Until Sixth House Base is completed.* |
| Savile Imayn | Tel Aruhn [15,5], outside | Until Zainab Nerevarine is completed. |
| Sharn gra-Muzgob | Balmora, Guild of Mages | Until Gra-Muzgob Informant is completed.* |
| Sinnammu Mirpal | Ahemmusa Camp, Wise Woman's Yurt | Until Ahemmusa Nerevarine is completed. |
| Sonummu Zabamat | Zainab Camp, Wise Woman's Yurt | Until Zainab Nerevarine is completed. |
| Sul-Matuul | Urshilaku Camp, Ashkhan's Yurt | Until Urshilaku Nerevarine is completed. |
| Tholer Saryoni | Vivec, High Fane | Until Hortator and Nerevarine is completed. |
| Uupse Fyr | Tel Fyr, Corprusarium Bowels | Until Corprus Cure is completed. |
| Varvur Sarethi | Ald'ruhn, Venim Manor Right Wing | Until Redoran Hortator is completed. |
| Velanda Omani | Ascadian Isles Region [7,-12], Omani Manor | Until Hlaalu Hortator is completed. |
| Vivec | Vivec, Palace of Vivec | Until Hortator and Nerevarine is completed. |
| Yagrum Bagarn | Tel Fyr, Corprusarium Bowels | Until Corprus Cure is completed. He is even essential for the Back Path. |
| Yenammu | Ahemmusa Camp, Dutadalk's Yurt | Until Ahemmusa Nerevarine is completed. |
| Zabamund | Urshilaku Camp, Zabamund's Yurt | Until Urshilaku Nerevarine is completed. |
*Killing any of these NPCs will make Caius Cosades unwilling to talk to you, even after their part in the Main Quest is over. They must stay alive until Caius gives his final quest, Mehra Milo and the Lost Prophecies. In case you accidentally kill one of these before that, the only way around Caius's auto-goodbye is to have a bounty of 1000 or more.
Unofficial Essential NPCsEdit
These NPCs are not marked as essential in the game, but killing them will still prevent you from completing the Main Quest normally; note that the vast majority of these are only important for the Nerevarine quests in the Fifth Trial, which means they can be bypassed by waiting during the fourth and fifth trials as described above.
| NPC | Location | When Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Ababael Timsar-Dadisun | Zainab Camp, Ababael Timsar-Dadisun's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Zainab Nerevarine |
| Addammus | Ahemmusa Camp, Addammus's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Ahemmusa Nerevarine |
| Addut-Lamanu | Erabenimsun Camp, Addut-Lamanu's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Erabenimsun Nerevarine |
| Ahasour | Urshilaku Camp, Ahasour's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Urshilaku Nerevarine |
| Alfe Fyr | Tower of Tel Fyr, Hall of Fyr | Will prevent you from completing Corprus Cure |
| Ashibaal | Zainab Camp, Ashibaal's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Zainab Nerevarine |
| Ashur-Dan | Zainab Camp, Ashur-Dan's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Zainab Nerevarine |
| Assamma-Idan | Ahemmusa Camp, Assamma-Idan's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Ahemmusa Nerevarine |
| Assemmus | Erabenimsun Camp, Assummus' Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Erabenimsun Nerevarine |
| Beyte Fyr | Tower of Tel Fyr, Onyx Hall | Will prevent you from completing Corprus Cure |
| Bolvyn Venim | Venim Manor Private Quarters, Ald'ruhn | Killing him outside the Arena will prevent you completing the Redoran Hortator quest. Bolvyn even has a script to simulate the essential character death message. |
| Delte Fyr | Tower of Tel Fyr, Onyx Hall | Will prevent you from completing Corprus Cure |
| Hainab | Urshilaku Camp, Outside | Will prevent you from completing Urshilaku Nerevarine |
| Kammu | Ahemmusa Camp, Outside | Will prevent you from completing Ahemmusa Nerevarine |
| Kummu | Erabenimsun Camp, Outside | Will prevent you from completing Erabenimsun Nerevarine |
| Kurapli | Urshilaku Camp, Kurapli's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Urshilaku Nerevarine |
| Lanabi | Ahemmusa Camp, Lanabi's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Ahemmusa Nerevarine |
| Mabarrabael | Ahemmusa Camp, Mamaea's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Ahemmusa Nerevarine |
| Maeli | Urshilaku Camp, Maeli's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Urshilaku Nerevarine |
| Mamaea | Ahemmusa Camp, Mamaea's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Ahemmusa Nerevarine |
| Massarapal | Erabenimsun Camp, Massarapal's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Erabenimsun Nerevarine |
| Mausur | Ahemmusa Camp, Nummu's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Ahemmusa Nerevarine |
| Minassour | Zainab Camp, Minassour's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Zainab Nerevarine |
| Ninirrasour | Urshilaku Camp, Shara's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Urshilaku Nerevarine |
| Nummu | Ahemmusa Camp, Nummu's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Ahemmusa Nerevarine |
| Patababi | Zainab Camp, Patababi's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Zainab Nerevarine |
| Sakiran | Urshilaku Camp, Sakiran's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Urshilaku Nerevarine |
| Sakulerib | Zainab Camp, Outside | Will prevent you from completing Zainab Nerevarine |
| Sellus Gravius | Seyda Neen, Census and Excise Office | Will prevent you from exiting the Census and Excise Office if killed before the end of the tutorial. |
| Sen | Ahemmusa Camp, Outside | Will prevent you from completing Ahemmusa Nerevarine |
| Senipu | Urshilaku Camp, Ahasour's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Urshilaku Nerevarine |
| Shabinbael | Urshilaku Camp, Outside | Will prevent you from completing Urshilaku Nerevarine |
| Shallath-Piremus | Urshilaku Camp, Outside | Will prevent you from completing Urshilaku Nerevarine |
| Shara | Urshilaku Camp, Shara's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Urshilaku Nerevarine |
| Shimsun | Urshilaku Camp, Shimsun's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Urshilaku Nerevarine |
| Tussi | Zainab Camp, Tussi's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Zainab Nerevarine |
| Tussurradad | Urshilaku Camp, Outside | Will prevent you from completing Urshilaku Nerevarine |
| Ulabael | Ahemmusa Camp, Addammus's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Ahemmusa Nerevarine |
| Ulibabi | Erabenimsun Camp, Massarapal's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Erabenimsun Nerevarine |
| Urshamusa Rapli | Ahemmusa Camp, Outside | Will prevent you from completing Ahemmusa Nerevarine |
| Vistha-Kai | Tower of Tel Fyr, Corprusarium | Will prevent you from completing Corprus Cure |
| Yantus | Erabenimsun Camp, Han-Ammu's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Erabenimsun Nerevarine |
| Yen | Urshilaku Camp, Sakiran's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Urshilaku Nerevarine |
| Zaba | Zainab Camp, Outside | Will prevent you from completing Zainab Nerevarine |
| Zallit | Ahemmusa Camp, Outside | Will prevent you from completing Ahemmusa Nerevarine |
| Zanummu | Urshilaku Camp, Zanummu's Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Urshilaku Nerevarine |
| Zebba | Erabenimsun Camp, Assemmus' Yurt | Will prevent you from completing Erabenimsun Nerevarine |