The Golden Claw is a quest MacGuffin in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim—a dragon-inscribed ornament stolen from the Riverwood Trader general store early in the game. In the story, the item belongs to the Riverwood Trader, and the shop’s proprietor Lucan Valerius hires the Dragonborn to recover it from Bleak Falls Barrow.
Players commonly ask who “owns” the Claw because the quest text says to “find the owner,” and you meet two Valerius siblings tied to the shop. Canonically, Lucan is the owner-proprietor, though the game’s internal “ownership” flag can sometimes show his sister Camilla as the item’s owner—hence the confusion.
Ownership Status of The Golden Claw
| Shareholder / Owner | Ownership Percentage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Riverwood Trader (Lucan Valerius) | 100% | Lucan is the owner of the Riverwood Trader and the in-world claimant of the Golden Claw, which bandits stole; he offers a reward for its return. |
Why some sources say “Camilla owns it”: Within Skyrim’s data, the item can carry Camilla Valerius as the technical “owner,” and if Lucan dies, Camilla takes over the shop. Practically, when you complete the quest, you return the Claw to Lucan at the Riverwood Trader.
About the Owner(s)
Lucan Valerius is an Imperial pawnbroker and the owner of the Riverwood Trader in the village of Riverwood. Shortly after the Dragonborn reaches town, locals mention a robbery; entering the Trader reveals Lucan arguing with his sister about the theft. Speak to him and he explains that thieves took “an ornament, solid gold, in the shape of a dragon’s claw,” and he promises a reward if you bring it back. Lucan’s dialogue, the shop signage, and the UESP character page all present him as the proprietor and the person to whom the Claw should be returned. This is why most guides direct you back to Lucan to finish the quest.
Camilla Valerius works at the Trader and often guides you to the bridge outside town to point at Bleak Falls Barrow after Lucan’s briefing. Many wikis note that in some versions or under certain conditions, the item’s ownership metadata references Camilla; moreover, if Lucan dies, she inherits the shop. This is the origin of the alternate “Camilla owns the Claw” explanation you may see on fan sites. In regular play, returning the Claw to Lucan resolves the objective and triggers his “prized Golden Claw” lines.
Company Overview
The Riverwood Trader isn’t a company in the real world, but in Skyrim it functions as Riverwood’s general store, selling weapons, apparel, tomes, and supplies. It is run by siblings Lucan and Camilla Valerius and serves as one of the very first merchant hubs a new character encounters after fleeing Helgen.
The Golden Claw quest is an early sandbox tutorial in exploration, dungeon delving, and puzzle mechanics: you clear Bleak Falls Barrow, recover the Claw from Arvel the Swift, use its animal-ring code to open the stone door, and eventually bring the Claw home for your reward. As a piece of world-building, the Claw foreshadows Skyrim’s obsession with Nordic ruins and dragon iconography, and it ties the main quest (“Bleak Falls Barrow”) to a memorable side objective that almost every player completes.
Recent Developments in Ownership
Because the Golden Claw exists within a video game, there haven’t been “ownership changes” in the real-world sense. Across the game’s re-releases (Special Edition, Anniversary Edition), the quest and its resolution remain the same: it is Lucan’s stolen ornament, and returning it to him completes the objective.
The persistent online debate stems from the in-game item ownership tag sometimes indicating Camilla as the owner, which wikis document as a data quirk rather than a narrative retcon. Functionally, the owner you return it to is Lucan at the Riverwood Trader.
FAQs
1. Who is the current owner of the Golden Claw?
Lucan Valerius, proprietor of the Riverwood Trader, is the narrative owner who hires you to retrieve it. Return the Claw to Lucan to complete the quest and receive your reward.
2. Why do some pages say Camilla Valerius owns the Golden Claw?
Some game data mark Camilla as the item’s owner, and she inherits the shop if Lucan dies. That technical flag fuels the confusion. In normal play, the quest points you back to Lucan as the owner/claimant.
3. Where do I take the Golden Claw to finish the quest?
Go to the Riverwood Trader and speak to Lucan Valerius behind the counter; handing it over completes the objective. Countless guides and Q&A threads confirm Lucan is the hand-in NPC.
4. What is the Golden Claw used for in the dungeon?
You use the Claw’s animal-ring pattern to solve the rotating door puzzle inside Bleak Falls Barrow, then continue deeper into the ruin. After exiting, return the Claw to Lucan.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Official Site
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