Prerequisites: Completion of the quest "Alduin's Wall". Quest Giver: Delphine & Esbern in Sky Haven Temple Region: Sky Haven Temple, High Hrothgar, The Throat of the World Reward: Words of Power LOK, VAH, KOOR ("Clear Skies") and a Word for the shout "Fire Breath"
Summary: Esbern interprets Alduin's Wall to mean that a dragon shout was used to defeat Alduin the last time. You are sent to the Greybeards to learn more about this shout. They send the player further to Paarthurnax. He does not know the shout either, but he has a proposed solution.
Quest Description
Speak with Arngeir
After Esbern has interpreted the reliefs in the center of the wall, you must attempt to learn from the Greybeards which dragon shout can be used to force Alduin to land. Traveling comfortably on foot or via fast travel, you eventually stand in the monastery again and address Master Arngeir on the subject. He is astonished that you ask such questions, and it quickly becomes clear to him that you have been speaking with the Blades. He does not think highly of the Blades - stating they are ruthless and arrogant, meddling in matters they barely understand. Furthermore, he claims they have always sought to turn every Dragonborn away from the path of wisdom. After a barely noticeable hint from Master Einarth, his agitation settles, followed by a final warning: the Blades say they serve the Dragonborn, but that is not so. It has never been so.
Regarding the shout, he says it is called "Dragonrend". However, he cannot teach it to you because its Words of Power are unknown to the Greybeards (upon inquiry, he can explain why this shout has no place in the Way of the Voice). Only Paarthurnax, the leader of the order, could answer questions about this shout. But he does not usually speak to outsiders, and it would be a great privilege to be allowed to see him.
The path to Paarthurnax lies shrouded in dense, icy mist. Passage is only possible with a special Thu'um.
Learn the "Clear Skies" shout
Despite these reservations, the Greybeards are willing to teach the player a shout to help find the way to the mountain peak to reach Paarthurnax. To do this, the monks gather outside around a fire pit, and Master Arngeir writes the Words of Power in the snow: LOK VAH KOOR. You can now absorb the words, and as a final gift from the Greybeards, their meaning is also imparted. This shout, "Clear Skies", is meant to blow away the dense, icy mist so that you can see the path to the mountain summit. With that, Master Arngeir says goodbye, and the monks retreat back into the monastery.
Clear the skies using the "Clear Skies" shout
Initially, the path to the summit is hidden in a blizzard, and attempting to pass is life-threatening. As soon as you perform the shout, the dense mist clears in a flash, and the sun comes out.
This magic does not last long; soon the storm rises again, and the cold damages your health. You must perform the shout again whenever your progress is blocked.
Speak with Paarthurnax
The path leads in a spiral up to the summit of the highest mountain in Skyrim - the Throat of the World. Arriving at the top, you will be astonished to find that Paarthurnax is a dragon. A special, white, cultured, and eloquent dragon.
Paarthurnax meditates on the mountain peak on the Rotmulaag - the Words of Power.
As soon as you are there, he introduces himself and greets you warmly. Although he asks trustingly who you are and what brought you to him, he basically already knows it exactly. And before you talk about the actual topic together, he wants to be greeted in the manner customary among the dov.
Learn the Word of Power from Paarthurnax / Use your "Fire Breath" shout against Paarthurnax / Speak with Paarthurnax
With a mighty YOL TOOR SHUL (Fire Breath), he speaks first according to ancient tradition and encourages the player to approach the Word Wall to learn a Word of Power. He then gifts the player the deep understanding of this word and wishes to be greeted with it. After you unleash Fire Breath upon him, he is satisfied and notes that it has been a long time since he had the pleasure of speaking with one of his own kind.
Even before you explicitly ask about "Dragonrend", he says that you are looking for a weapon against Alduin. For Alduin and Dovahkiin return together. However, he does not know this Thu'um you are looking for, because it was created by mortals. He then speaks of Alduin, his older brother, who was talented but greedy and difficult. The conversation drifts into philosophy, centering on the reason why you want to stop Alduin. It might be that you are trying to prevent a new beginning. Disrupting the natural order. You can address him on other topics about which he gladly lectures in detail, such as Words of Power, the Thu'um, the homogeneity of language and combat, Alduin's final defeat, the nature of time, and philosophy itself.
Regarding the actual topic of "Dragonrend", Paarthurnax says that the ancient Nords did not use the Thu'um alone to defeat Alduin, but also an Elder Scroll. As a fragment of Creation, it was powerful enough to leave Alduin helpless against the currents of time. However, this created a break in time, a wound. With the help of this scroll, one could return to the other side of this rupture and learn "Dragonrend" from those who created it.
An dieser Stelle wird diese Quest beendet und ein neues offensichtliches Ziel in der nächsten Quest aufgezeigt.
Tips & Notes
In this quest as well, Esbern confuses the Akaviri with the Blades several times.
If you already know one or two words of Fire Breath, you will learn the next Word of Power for this shout here.
When using the Fire Breath shout against Paarthurnax, you can see that it is possible to injure him with it.
If you are here with a follower, you should not draw your weapon, otherwise the follower will attack Paarthurnax.
During the conversation with Paarthurnax, you can pick up many words of the ancient dragon language, such as "Kel" (Elder Scroll) or "Monahven" (The Throat of the World).
After this quest, you can return to Paarthurnax at any time to be instructed in specific meditations. There are 3 to choose from (FUS, FEIM, YOL) to receive a corresponding permanent bonus. This works similarly to the blessings of the Divines.
outside around a fire pit, and Master Arngeir writes the Words of Power
in the snow: LOK VAH KOOR. You can now absorb the words, and as a final gift from the Greybeards, their meaning is also imparted. This shout, "Clear Skies", is meant to blow away the dense, icy mist so that you can see the path to the mountain summit. With that, Master Arngeir says goodbye, and the monks retreat back into the monastery.
says that the ancient Nords did not use the Thu'um alone to defeat Alduin, but also an Elder Scroll. As a fragment of Creation, it was powerful enough to leave Alduin helpless against the currents of time. However, this created a break in time, a wound. With the help of this scroll, one could return to the other side of this rupture and learn "Dragonrend" from those who created it.
outside around a fire pit, and Master Arngeir writes the Words of Power
in the snow: LOK VAH KOOR. You can now absorb the words, and as a final gift from the Greybeards, their meaning is also imparted. This shout, "Clear Skies", is meant to blow away the dense, icy mist so that you can see the path to the mountain summit. With that, Master Arngeir says goodbye, and the monks retreat back into the monastery.
says that the ancient Nords did not use the Thu'um alone to defeat Alduin, but also an Elder Scroll. As a fragment of Creation, it was powerful enough to leave Alduin helpless against the currents of time. However, this created a break in time, a wound. With the help of this scroll, one could return to the other side of this rupture and learn "Dragonrend" from those who created it.