The Inner Sanctum (Dawnguard) is the grand temple at the end of the Forgotten Vale and part of the Chantry of Auri-El. It sits just past the Wayshrine of Radiance: a big Elven-style building of white stone with ornate gold windows. This is where Touching the Sky reaches its climax, and where Auriel’s Bow waits.
What you’ll find
- Entrance – the door is sealed until you have visited every wayshrine and filled the Initiate’s Ewer; pour it into the basin by the door and the water flows over to unlock it.
- Exterior – a golden statue of Auri-El in the courtyard, and through an arch west of the entrance, a half-buried skeleton wearing a circlet with an elven sword lying below it.
- Main chamber – frozen Falmer and chaurus, with a Shrine of Auriel in the middle.
- Hidden room – place the ewer on the altar on the left wall to reveal a frost giant carrying the Ruby Paragon. A second altar in that room uncovers more treasure.
- Paragon platform – the Sapphire Paragon opens an extra section with Elven arrows and minor loot.
- Auriel’s Chapel – a glacial tunnel leads to this half-ruined hall, where Arch-Curate Vyrthur sits on a throne with frozen Falmer around him.
- Balcony – a grand terrace overlooking the vale, where the final fight with Vyrthur plays out. A wayshrine appears here once he is dead.
Quests
Touching the Sky – the sanctum is the last stop of the quest: empty the Initiate’s Ewer to get in, fight through to Arch-Curate Vyrthur and claim Auriel’s Bow at the end.
Notable items
- Auriel’s Bow
- Ruby Paragon (from the frost giant)
- Circlet of Waterbreathing – held by a frozen Falmer shaman at the north end of the sanctum.
Tips
Frozen Falmer are basically mannequins until they thaw, and grabbing items from their hands will not break Invisibility – but Telekinesis cannot pull them free, so you have to walk up and take them. Attacking a thawed one still reveals you. This is the only part of the Forgotten Vale that does not respawn, so take your time with the loot. If entering freezes the loading screen, leave the area for a while and come back.
Good to know
You can sit on Vyrthur’s throne once he is gone, which may trigger a unique sitting animation. Every villain needs a successor.
Details checked against community wiki articles and the Skyrim/Dawnguard game files, summarised in our own words.
