“Touching the Sky” is the longest and best-looking quest in the Dawnguard add-on. You and Serana travel through Darkfall Cave into the Forgotten Vale, a hidden snow-elf valley, to claim Auriel’s Bow – and run into the one who wrote the prophecy in the first place.
How it starts
It follows straight on from Unseen Visions: the Elder Scroll vision points to Darkfall Cave on the western edge of Skyrim.
Walkthrough
Darkfall Cave
Follow the path past the waterfall, take the right fork and cross the old bridge – it collapses behind you, and the rapids carry you past spider nests to an abandoned camp. Use the chain behind the bed shelter for a shortcut, or take the long eastern path past two trolls.
Knight-Paladin Gelebor
At Auriel’s Shrine you meet Gelebor, one of the last Snow Elves. He asks you to kill his brother, Arch-Curate Vyrthur, who he believes was corrupted by the Falmer. He gives you an Initiate’s Ewer and opens the first wayshrine.
Darkfall Passage
Fight through Falmer and chaurus to the Wayshrine of Illumination, then fill the ewer and step into the Forgotten Vale.
The five wayshrines
Fill the ewer at each wayshrine, tended by the ghosts of old prelates:
- Wayshrine of Illumination – Prelate Sidanyis
- Wayshrine of Sight – Prelate Athring
- Wayshrine of Learning – Prelate Celegriath
- Wayshrine of Resolution – Prelate Nirilor (a word wall for Drain Vitality lies to the south)
- Wayshrine of Radiance – Prelate Edhelbor, reached through the Glacial Crevice and a Falmer camp
The vale is full of Falmer, sabre cats, frost giants and two dragons, Naaslaarum and Voslaarum (ice wraiths instead if you haven’t finished Dragon Rising).
Inner Sanctum
Pour the full ewer into the basin in the courtyard to open the main door. Inside, putting the ewer on an altar in the west reveals a hidden room with a frost giant and a ruby paragon. Careful with the frozen Falmer – looting them wakes them up.
Arch-Curate Vyrthur
Drop down into Auriel’s Chapel – there’s no way back up. Vyrthur summons Falmer and a frost atronach, then brings down the roof and retreats to a balcony. When Serana confronts him, the truth comes out: Vyrthur is a vampire, he created the Tyranny of the Sun prophecy as revenge on Auri-El, and he needed the blood of a pure vampire to make it work.
He fights with ice magic, lightning, a stamina-draining spell and a frost dagger when his magicka runs dry. Tip: hit him with Unrelenting Force while he’s on the balcony and he falls onto the ice below.
Auriel’s Bow
Afterwards Gelebor steps out of the balcony wayshrine. Talk to him, then take Auriel’s Bow from inside the shrine. He’ll also help you get Sunhallowed Arrows later. Talk to Serana to begin Kindred Judgment.
Rewards
- Auriel’s Bow
- Drain Vitality word of power
- Optional paragons from the frost giants (diamond, emerald, sapphire, ruby, amethyst)
Tips
Dismiss any second follower before entering Darkfall Cave – they can get stuck for good. You can pick them up again after the boss fight.
