Skyrim Main Quest Walkthrough Part 2: The Blades, Paarthurnax and the Elder Scroll

Part 2 of our Skyrim main quest walkthrough. Delphine reveals who she really is, you sneak into a Thalmor party, rescue an old Blade from the sewers of Riften, find a temple hidden for centuries, meet a dragon who speaks for peace and travel deep underground to find an Elder Scroll. By the end, you'll know the Shout that can bring Alduin down.

Skyrim main quest walkthrough: ← Part 1  |  Part 3 →

The whole walkthrough

Quests in this part

1. A Blade in the Dark
2. Diplomatic Immunity
3. A Cornered Rat
4. Alduin's Wall
5. The Throat of the World
6. Elder Knowledge
7. Alduin's Bane

1. A Blade in the Dark: Kynesgrove

Delphine wants proof that you're Dragonborn. She believes dragons aren't just returning, someone is bringing them back. She takes you to a dragon burial mound near Kynesgrove, east of Windhelm.

There you see Alduin, the World-Eater, for the first time since Helgen. He raises a dead dragon, Sahloknir, from the grave and flies off. Kill Sahloknir with Delphine's help and absorb his soul. Convinced, Delphine admits she's one of the last of the Blades, an order of dragon hunters who once served Dragonborn emperors.

2. Diplomatic Immunity: the Thalmor Embassy

Delphine suspects the Thalmor, the elves who rule much of the Empire, know who's behind the dragons. The only way to find out is to get into their embassy during one of their parties.

• Meet Delphine's contact, Malborn, at the Winking Skeever inn in Solitude. Give him the gear you want to take in: you'll go to the party without weapons or armour.
• Delphine gives you party clothes and an invitation. At the party, cause a distraction with one of the guests so Malborn can slip you into the kitchen.
• Collect your gear and sneak through to Elenwen's solar. Her chest holds documents about the dragons, a file on you, and a lead on a man named Esbern, hiding in Riften.
• Free the prisoner in the dungeon if you can, then escape through the trapdoor into the caves below.

Sneaky characters will love this quest. Warriors can fight their way out, but stealth makes it much easier.

3. A Cornered Rat: finding Esbern

Esbern is an old Blade archivist, and the Thalmor are hunting him. He's hiding in the Ratway, the sewers under Riften. Ask around the city, then head down into the Ratway and its tavern, the Ragged Flagon. The regulars there can point you to him if you pay or persuade them.

Esbern is locked inside the Ratway Warrens. Convince him you're Dragonborn, then protect him as Thalmor agents attack. He and Delphine reunite and agree on the next step: Sky Haven Temple.

4. Alduin's Wall: Sky Haven Temple

Travel with Esbern to Karthspire in the Reach. A Forsworn camp guards the area, so expect a fight. Inside the mountain, Esbern guides you through old Blades traps to a door that only opens with the blood of the Dragonborn.

Behind it is Alduin's Wall, a huge carving that tells the story of how ancient Nords defeated Alduin with a Shout. The Blades never knew the Shout itself. The only ones who might are the Greybeards.

Sky Haven Temple becomes the new Blades base, and you can recruit followers into the Blades there later.

5. The Throat of the World: Paarthurnax

Return to High Hrothgar. Arngeir isn't happy that you've joined the Blades, but he teaches you Clear Skies, a Shout that pushes back the deadly winds above the monastery. Use it to climb to the very top of the Throat of the World.

On the summit you meet Paarthurnax, an ancient dragon and the leader of the Greybeards. He teaches you a new Shout through a duel of words and explains the truth: the Shout on Alduin's Wall, Dragonrend, came from an Elder Scroll, read on this very spot long ago. To learn it, you need that Scroll.

6. Elder Knowledge: Blackreach

Go to the College of Winterhold and ask the librarian, Urag gro-Shub, in the Arcanaeum. He points you to Septimus Signus, an eccentric scholar living in an outpost on the ice north of Winterhold.

Septimus gives you what you need to enter the Dwemer ruin of Alftand. Fight down through the ruin (expect Dwarven machines and Falmer), then descend into Blackreach, a vast underground cavern full of glowing mushrooms. Find the Tower of Mzark, use the device at the top to retrieve the Elder Scroll, and take the lift back up to the surface.

Tip: Blackreach is one of the most beautiful places in the game, with rare ingredients and its own secrets. It's worth exploring before you leave.

7. Alduin's Bane: learning Dragonrend

Bring the Elder Scroll to the summit of the Throat of the World and read it at the Time-Wound. You see the ancient heroes fight Alduin and learn Dragonrend from them, a Shout that forces a dragon out of the sky.

Then Alduin arrives. Fight him alongside Paarthurnax: use Dragonrend to ground him, then attack while he's on the ground. When he's beaten, Alduin flees, and part 3 begins: finding out where he's gone.

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Want the world map on your wall? A Skyrim map poster is a great way to plan your next adventure.

Tips for this part

• Bring plenty of potions to Alftand and Blackreach. Falmer and Dwarven Centurions hit hard.
• Use Dragonrend every time Alduin takes off. It's the key to the fight.
• Don't worry about the civil war yet. It affects part 3, and the game handles it either way.

Playing on console or picking it up again? The Skyrim Anniversary Edition includes the three expansions and all the extra Creation Club content, and it's often on sale.

My take

This is where Skyrim's main story really gets going. The embassy party, the Ratway and the first time you stand in Blackreach are all memorable, and meeting Paarthurnax is one of the best moments in the game. Ready for the finale? Part 3 takes you to Sovngarde.

Skyrim main quest walkthrough: ← Part 1  |  Part 3: how to beat Alduin →