Ancient Falmer Tomes*

Initial Preparations

To activate this unmarked quest (which is just a Miscellaneous Objective once you find the first book), simply find one of the four Ancient Falmer Tomes (as shown, also known as “Unknown Books”) in the Forgotten Vale. These can be found in any order, and not all of them need to be found. However, you receive 1,000 gold for each book you find, so this is well worth your time.

Tome Gathering: Four Books Forgotten

In this section, we tell you where each of the books are located. They are listed in numerical order, although you won’t find them in that order without some backtracking through the Forgotten Vale. In each case, a picture of each location is shown, and each location is also named: The names are references to the Atlas section only (they don’t appear on your local map). Check the compass on each picture so you know from which direction to approach.

Unknown Book, Vol. I

Snow Lake Entrance: The Sprawled Skeleton: When you reach the snowy hill and the Forgotten Vale lake, head south down the slope toward the water’s edge. Along the way, you’ll spot a skeletal corpse sprawled over a chest. Close to the chest is the book and a coin purse. This is usually the first book you’ll find.

• Unknown Book, Vol. I

Unknown Book, Vol. II

Upper Falls Overlook: This is the most difficult book to find. First you must trek to the location of the third Frost Giant, which is in the northern Falmer cliffs area that you traverse before reaching the Glacial Crevice. The Frost Giant lives by a shallow cave high above the main river fissure, off a circular Falmer path. Slay this foe and claim the Emerald Paragon from its corpse. Then (usually after completing the Dawnguard Main Quest) journey to the Paragon Portal Platform, close to the second Frost Giant’s location, and insert the Emerald Paragon. You emerge at Upper Falls Overlook, high above the Frozen Lake and close to the Temple Balcony. Head to the waterfall’s edge and look right (east). The book is by some arrows, a bow, a chest, and a skeleton. This is usually the last book you’ll find.

• Unknown Book, Vol. II

Unknown Book, Vol. III

Falmer Hut, Dead-End Ledge: Journey across the northern Falmer cliffs, the area you must traverse before reaching the Glacial Crevice. On your descent, with the river below you and the Glacial Crevice to the south, head across a couple of bridges (one Falmer-made and the other natural). There’s a Falmer Hut with a mammoth skull adorning it. The book is on a table inside the hut, near some potions and other trinkets. This is usually the second book you’ll find.

• Unknown Book, Vol. III

Unknown Book, Vol. IV

Falmer Hut, the Falmer Fissure: After emerging from the Glacial Crevice, enter the Falmer Fissure, and fight your way to the second part of this location, with four huts to ransack and a group of Chaurus Hunter Fledglings to remove from their nests below. Be sure to check the hut on the upper walkway at this area’s far eastern end; the Unknown Book is here on a table near potions and a Falmer chest, just before you drop down and enter the sloping tunnel to the south. This is usually the third book you’ll find.

• Unknown Book, Vol. IV

Quest Conclusion

When you have one or more of these tomes, visit the College of Winterhold and seek out Urag gro-Shub in the Arcanaeum. Ask him if he has any interest in ancient Falmer tomes, and he agrees to purchase them from you for 1,000 gold, plus a translated version of the book. Collect all four for the following rewards:

• 1,000 gold (per book)
• The Betrayed (translated version of Vol. I)
• Journal of Mirtil Angoth (translated version of Vol. II)
• Diary of Faire Agarwen (translated version of Vol. III)
• Touching the Sky (translated version of Vol. IV)

Postquest Activities

Return to Urag gro-Shub if you missed any books, until you’ve found and sold all four and pocketed the translated copy and your “finder’s fee.”