Main Quest: The Throat of the World

OBJECTIVES: Talk to Arngeir, Learn the Clear Skies Shout, Use the Clear Skies Shout to open the path, Talk to Paarthurnax, Learn the Word of Power from Paarthurnax, Use your Fire Breath Shout on Paarthurnax, Talk to Paarthurnax

Sky Above, Voice Within

While Esbern inspects the third panel of Alduin’s Wall (and offers his opinion of it if you wish to listen), you should exit Sky Haven Temple. Head up and north, and exit through any of the “dragon arrow” doors to an outside ruin offering excellent views over the Reach. You have a long trek back toward Whiterun, and then must navigate the 7,000 steps again to High Hrothgar. You should Fast-Travel if you’re feeling impatient. Seek out Master Arngeir, and inform him that you need to learn the Shout that was used to defeat Alduin. The Greybeard is angered by your request, blaming the meddling Blades for their reckless arrogance. Arngeir ends the conversation (no matter what you say) by admonishing you for straying from the path of wisdom.

Master Einarth murmurs something to Arngeir in dragon tongue, and Arngeir calls for you to stop. He apologizes for his outburst and informs you that the Shout is called “Dragonrend.” It is unknown, even to the Greybeards of High Hrothgar, as it is deemed evil. Only the master of the Greybeards—Paarthurnax—can answer your questions. You are beckoned into the courtyard and are taught another Shout that will open the way to Paarthurnax.

Follow Arngeir toward the ceremonial fire pit on the raised area of the courtyard, where he bellows three glowing, runic words into the carved stone on the ground below. Step onto and absorb each of them, so your Clear Skies Shout is the strongest it can be. Then absorb the knowledge from the glowing Master Arngeir. You learn Lok (“Sky”), Vah (“Spring”), and Koor (“Summer”). Then enter your Magic > Shout Inventory menu, and select this Shout.

• Word of Power: Sky, Clear Skies
• Word of Power: Spring, Clear Skies
• Word of Power: Summer, Clear Skies

Clearing the Throat

With the Shout selected, turn and depart from High Hrothgar, heading up the steps from the fire pit to the southeast. You are greeted by a perimeter arch, through which is an impenetrable fog. Execute the Clear Skies Shout and the fog dissipates for a few seconds before blanketing the mountain again. This gives you a clear view of the path to the mountaintop.

Continue up the path until you reach the edge of the fog bank. If the fog returns, then Shout again. As you progress up the zigzagging path, look out for the marker stones and the flags affixed to them. The pace is slow, but you eventually emerge above the fog bank and discover the Throat of the World—the summit of the largest mountain in Skyrim.

A deep booming voice echoes around the giant rocks and snowbanks atop the mountain. Paarthurnax greets you. Speak to this giant white dragon, who asks why you intrude upon his meditation. Explain that you need to learn the Dragonrend Shout. He responds that patience is required and that formalities must be observed. Paarthurnax lands on the ground nearby and encourages you to hear his Thu’um and respond—if you are truly Dovahkiin! He opens his maw and scorches a nearby rock in a great gout of fire!

The rock soon glows with a runic Word of Power. Take this as the gift it is intended to be, and absorb another new Word of the Fire Breath Shout. You then absorb Paarthurnax’s knowledge of the Word...except the beast is still alive and doesn’t need slaying.

• Word of Power: Fire Breath

Paarthurnax now wishes you to greet him, not as a mortal but as a dovah (“dragon”). Select the Fire Breath Shout from your inventory, and yell it directly into the dragon, bathing him in your fiery blast. Paarthurnax doesn’t become hostile; this is the ceremonial greeting he was expecting.

Watcher at the Time-Wound

Paarthurnax is happy to make your acquaintance and asks what you wish of him. When you repeat your request to learn the Dragonrend Shout, Paarthurnax has been expecting this. After further conversation, the great dragon says that even he does not know the Thu’um that you seek. After another question, he asks why you want to learn the Shout. Reply with any answer you wish, but do tell him you need to stop Alduin. Paarthurnax describes his elder brother as “troublesome.” This hermit soon asks you why he lives up here.

Your answers won’t be correct, so he tells you he meditates at this spot, as it was where Alduin was defeated by the ancient Tongues. But even the Dragonrend Shout wasn’t enough; they had to employ the Kel—or Elder Scroll—to create a Tiid-Ahraan, or Time-Wound, and cast him adrift on the currents of Time. If you ask, he explains what an Elder Scroll is and reveals he has been waiting: For thousands of years, until Alduin began to emerge from Time. This is important to your cause. If you found an Elder Scroll at this exact location, you might be able to cast yourself back to the other end of the time break—and learn Dragonrend from those who created it!

Quest Conclusion

You’re left with one overwhelming question...

Postquest Activities

...which is answered during Main Quest: Elder Knowledge!