Elder Knowledge

Elder Knowledge sends you hunting for one of the most powerful artifacts in Tamriel: an Elder Scroll. Paarthurnax needs the scroll the ancient Nords used against Alduin, and the trail leads from a college of mages to a hermit on the ice to an underground world beneath Skyrim.

Walkthrough

Asking for directions

Ask Paarthurnax about the Elder Scroll. For more help, talk to Arngeir or Esbern – both send you to the College of Winterhold.

The College of Winterhold

At the bridge, Faralda will not let you in unless you are a member. Persuade her, cast the spell she asks for, or simply shout to prove you are Dragonborn. Inside, find Urag gro-Shub in the Arcanaeum, the college library. He gives you two books on the Elder Scrolls, and tells you that the only real expert is Septimus Signus.

Septimus Signus

Septimus lives in an outpost on the ice floes north of Winterhold. He is brilliant, rambling and more than a little strange. He tells you the scroll is hidden deep in Blackreach and gives you two things: an Attunement Sphere to open the way, and a Lexicon (for his own side quest).

Alftand

The way down starts in Alftand, a Dwemer ruin in the snowy mountains of Winterhold. Inside are Falmer, Dwarven automatons and the remains of an unlucky expedition. Work your way down to the Alftand Cathedral and the huge Dwemer door that the Attunement Sphere opens.

Blackreach

Beyond lies Blackreach, a vast glowing cavern full of Falmer, chaurus and Dwarven Centurions. Head for the Tower of Mzark, where an ancient Dwemer machine – the Oculory – holds the Elder Scroll. Press the buttons to align the lenses so the beam focuses on the central receptacle, and the scroll is yours.

Leaving Blackreach

The Tower of Mzark has a lift that takes you back up to the surface. Then head back to Paarthurnax on the Throat of the World, which starts Alduin’s Bane.

Rewards

• Elder Scroll (Dragon)

Tips

• Do not read the Elder Scroll before you reach the summit – it blinds you for a while and gives you nothing yet.
• Blackreach is huge and beautiful. If you have time, explore it – there is a lot to find.