Barbas

Barbas is a fictional character in The Elder Scrolls video game series, best known from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. He is a talking dog who serves the Daedric Prince Clavicus Vile and is bound to the Mask of Clavicus Vile, a Daedric artifact that facilitates the prince’s bargains with mortals.

In Skyrim, Barbas appears during the quest A Daedra's Best Friend. He accompanies the player as they seek the Mask of Clavicus Vile and offers dialogue that reflects his loyalty to his master. His intelligence and witty, sometimes blunt, speech add a distinctive tone to the quest and provide guidance and commentary as the player navigates multiple tasks tied to the Daedric bargain.

Barbas’s presence emphasizes themes common in the game’s portrayal of Daedric beings: bargains, power, and the consequences of making deals with powerful, otherworldly entities. The relationship between Barbas, the Mask, and Clavicus Vile can be influenced by the player’s choices during the quest, affecting the final outcome and the fate of the artifact.

Beyond Skyrim, Barbas is rarely referenced in other installments and remains primarily associated with this single questline within the series. He is frequently cited as one of the more memorable talking-animal NPCs in the franchise, notable for his personality, loyalty to his master, and the way he personifies the capricious nature of Daedric bargains.