Prerequisites: Completion of the quest "Elder Knowledge". Quest Giver: Paarthurnax Region: The Throat of the World Reward: Words of Power JOOR, ZAH, FRUL ("Drachenfall")
Summary: The Elder Scroll must be used at the time-wound. This reveals a vision showing how the ancient Nord heroes defeated Alduin millennia ago – and you learn the "Dragonrend" shout in the process. Alduin appears in the present and must be defeated with the help of the newly learned shout.
Quest Description
Read the Elder Scroll at the Time-Wound
The quest already started back in the Tower of Mzark upon removing the Elder Scroll from the Dwemer containment mechanism. Now, you must travel with it to the Throat of the World.
Upon your arrival, Paarthurnax immediately addresses you. Recognizing your determination to fight Alduin, he sends the player to the time-wound to fulfill your destiny. He also notes that Alduin will soon appear, as he will sense the tremor in time emanating from the scroll. The time-wound is located at a specific spot on the mountain peak, and its shimmering appearance becomes increasingly distinct the closer you approach. There, you unroll the Elder Scroll and, through its content, receive a vision of the final confrontation with Alduin.
Learn the "Dragonrend" shout from the ancient Nord heroes
You witness the three ancient heroes - Hakon, Gormlaith, and Felldir - fighting against dragons on the summit of the Throat of the World while awaiting Alduin's arrival. Several dead dragons and charred human corpses already litter the ground.
Another dragon that the ancient heroes must deal with while awaiting Alduin's arrival.
They wonder why Alduin is ignoring their challenge. Felldir calms them, stating that Alduin has no reason to fear them and will come. However, he is well aware that no one has been able to withstand Alduin so far. The fearless Gormlaith counters that they know the Dragonrend shout this time and promises to claim Alduin's head. The wise Felldir explains to her, however, that Alduin cannot be compared to a lesser dragon and that his strength far exceeds theirs. For this reason, he has brought along the Elder Scroll. Yet, they all hope they will not have to use it.
When Alduin finally appears and mocks them, they use the Dragonrend shout to prevent him from flying. At that moment, the player learns the shout and acquires the knowledge to use it.
Alduin on the ground under the influence of the Dragonrend shout.
Alduin is astonished by what has happened and curses Paarthurnax. You can continue to watch how the three heroes fight against Alduin. However, even bound to the ground, Alduin is not to be defeated, and soon the brave Gormlaith is killed. Cut down to two, they have even less of a chance, and Hakon shouts to Felldir to use the scroll. Felldir raises it high and cries:
"- Begone, World-Eater! By words with older bones than your own we break your hold on this age, and cast you out! You are banished! Alduin, we cry you out from all our endings unto the last! You are banished!"
With that, Alduin is cast out of time and disappears with his final words of astonishment:
"- Faal Kel...?! Nikriinne..."★
Defeat Alduin
The vision ends, and in the present, the player is met with the rumbling words of Alduin, who has already arrived:
"- Bahloki nahkip sillesejoor. My belly is full of the souls of your fellow mortals, Dragonborn. Die now and await your fate in Sovngarde!"
The battle begins, and while Paarthurnax attacks his brother, he urgently advises the player to use the Dragonrend shout. For otherwise, Alduin would be invincible. You will notice that while Paarthurnax can inflict damage, he is no match for Alduin's strength. When you use the Dragonrend shout against Alduin, you force him to land. The now-weakened Paarthurnax continues to fight on the ground but fails to inflict decisive damage on Alduin.
A terrible battle between two unequal brothers.
While the player must now employ all of their combat experience, Alduin is astonished but remains confident in victory:
"- You may have picked up the weapons of my old foes, but you are not their equal!"
Whether in close quarters or ranged combat, with blades, spells, or summons – somehow you must manage to continually weaken Alduin. Eventually, Paarthurnax can no longer help, and only the player can end the fight. Just before his ultimate defeat, the black dragon thunders:
"- Meyz mul, Dovahkiin. You have grown strong." "- But I am Al-du-in, Firstborn of Akatosh! Mulaagi zok lot! I cannot be slain here, by you or anyone else! You cannot prevail against me. I will outlast you... mortal creature!"
Then Alduin rises into the air and flies away to the east. With that, the quest ends, and the next one starts immediately.
Known Bugs
You should wait for Alduin's initial speech to finish before attacking him. If you do not, it can happen that Alduin gets stuck in the sky, and no further interaction with him is possible.
Tips & Notes
During the fight against Alduin in the vision, Felldir uses FO KRAH DIIN (Frost Breath).
Similar to the events in Helgen, Alduin summons a sort of meteor storm, causing burning boulders to rain down, injuring the player and creating devastation.
You should continually cast the Dragonrend shout on Alduin to prevent him from taking off.
The dragon shout KRII LUN AUS (Marked for Death) is highly useful when fighting Alduin. If you do not know it, powerful shock spells are also effective.
If you want help from Paarthurnax, make sure not to hit him with the Dragonrend shout. If you do, he will land and no longer participate in the battle.
At the end of the fight, Alduin has only a few hit points left, which would make it impossible for any (other) dragon to take off. You can additionally keep casting Dragonrend on him until the very end. Nevertheless, he will take off and fly away. Why this is the case, and why he didn't simply ignore the effects of Dragonrend in this manner earlier, is something only the game designers at Bethesda know.
Alduin's escape at the end cannot be prevented.
The Elder Scroll remains in your inventory as a quest item (weight: 20). You can sell it to Urag gro-Shub at the College for 2,000 gold.
and, through its content
, receive a vision of the final confrontation with Alduin.
along the Elder Scroll. Yet, they all hope they will not have to use it.
, they have even less of a chance, and Hakon shouts to Felldir to use the scroll. Felldir raises it high
and cries:
, who has already arrived:
his brother, he urgently advises the player to use the Dragonrend shout. For otherwise, Alduin would be invincible. You will notice that while Paarthurnax can inflict damage
, he is no match for Alduin's strength. When you use the Dragonrend shout against Alduin, you force him to land. The now-weakened Paarthurnax continues to fight on the ground but fails to inflict decisive damage on Alduin.
and, through its content
, receive a vision of the final confrontation with Alduin.
along the Elder Scroll. Yet, they all hope they will not have to use it.
, they have even less of a chance, and Hakon shouts to Felldir to use the scroll. Felldir raises it high
and cries:
, who has already arrived:
his brother, he urgently advises the player to use the Dragonrend shout. For otherwise, Alduin would be invincible. You will notice that while Paarthurnax can inflict damage
, he is no match for Alduin's strength. When you use the Dragonrend shout against Alduin, you force him to land. The now-weakened Paarthurnax continues to fight on the ground but fails to inflict decisive damage on Alduin.
can no longer help, and only the player can end the fight. Just before his ultimate defeat, the black dragon
thunders:
, causing burning boulders to rain down, injuring the player and creating devastation.
