Skyborn Altar is a dragon lair perched on a mountain east-southeast of Morthal and south-southwest of Dawnstar. A leveled dragon claims the summit, and next to it stands a Word Wall for Frost Breath. If you want an icy shout and a dragon soul in one trip, this is a very efficient hike.
What you’ll find
- A leveled dragon guarding the altar once the main quest has woken the dragons.
- The Word Wall for Frost Breath, with a dead adventurer lying nearby – a gentle reminder that not everyone makes it.
- Before Dragon Rising is finished, the dragon is absent; instead you meet a Wispmother with her wisps, and a sacrificial table with a shrine of Akatosh.
Getting there
The easiest approach starts from Labyrinthian. Head southeast and pass under an arch until you reach a green clearing, then turn east and follow a gradual path and some stairs up to the top.
Quests
- Dragon Seekers – Farkas or Vilkas may send you here.
- Find the Word of Power – Arngeir can point you to this Word Wall.
- Find the Source of Power – a courier may bring a letter from a ‘friend’ telling you about the altar.
- The innkeeper in Morthal can mention a bounty letter from the town guards about the dragon here.
Notable items
- Word Wall: Frost Breath.
Tips
Try not to fight the dragon at the very top of the cliff. If it dies near the edge, its corpse can ragdoll all the way down the mountain and you will be scrambling down after your loot. Fighting from the foot of the altar works better: the dragon has to fly lower or land to get a clear line at you, which gives your arrows and blades a fair chance. The wall is reportedly a bit glitchy – the word can seem to be learned without appearing in your list – so check your shout menu before you leave.
Nearby
Closest places covered on TamrielSaga: Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon, Lost Valkygg, The Lord Stone, Labyrinthian, Stonehills.
Location data (hold, map position, editor ID) read from the Skyrim game files; details checked against community wiki articles and summarised in our own words.