Prerequisites: Complete Main Quest: The Throat of the World

Intersecting Quests: Main Quest: The Throat of the World, Main Quest: Alduin’s Bane, Main Quest: Paarthurnax, Daedric Quest: Discerning the Transmundane, Other Faction Quests (The Greybeards Quests): Word Wall Revelations*, Other Faction Quests (The Greybeards Quests): Meditations on Words of Power*, College of Winterhold Quest: First Lessons

Locations: Alftand, Alftand Animonculory, Alftand Cathedral, Alftand Glacial Ruins, Alftand Ruined Tower , Blackreach, College of Winterhold, Hall of the Elements, The Arcanaeum, High Hrothgar , High Hrothgar Courtyard, Septimus Signus’s Outpost, Sky Haven Temple, Throat of the World, Tower of Mzark, Oculory

Characters: Esbern, Faralda, Master Arngeir, Paarthurnax, Septimus Signus, Urag gro-Shub

Enemies: Dwarven Centurion, Dwarven Sphere, Dwarven Spider, Falmer, Frostbite Spider, Horker, Ice Wolf, J’darr, Skeever, Wolf

Objectives: Learn the location of the Elder Scroll, (Optional) Talk to Esbern, OR (Optional) Talk to Arngeir, Objective: Recover the Elder Scroll

Higher Learning

Objective: Learn the location of the Elder Scroll
Target: College of Winterhold

Objective: (Optional) Talk to Esbern
Target: Esbern, at the Sky Haven Temple

Objective: OR (Optional) Talk to Arngeir
Target: Master Arngeir, at High Hrothgar

Finish your conversation with Paarthurnax by asking him to impart all the information about the Elder Scroll that he can. According to him, when you return with the Scroll, you shall meet Hakon, Gormlaith, and Felldir—the first mortals to whom Paarthurnax taught the Thu’um and who led the rebellion against Alduin.

Complete your talk with Paarthurnax, and then leave to locate the Elder Scroll, if you haven’t found it yet. There are two optional clues that point you in the correct direction.

Talking to Esbern: To learn more about your Elder Scroll search, you may wish to return to the Sky Haven Temple. Esbern is usually standing outside, atop the mountain the temple is dug into, gazing over the Reach. Approach the temple pavilion and speak to him. He recommends you visit the College of Winterhold. Your map updates.

Talking to Arngeir: To learn more about your Elder Scroll search, you can visit High Hrothgar and speak with Master Arngeir. The Greybeards do not concern themselves with the Scrolls, but such blasphemies have always been the stock-in-trade of the mages of Winterhold. He suggests you try their College. Your map updates.

Note

At this point, you can speak to Arngeir and learn the locations of additional Words of Power. Consult Other Factions Quests (The Greybeards Quests): Word Wall Revelations for more details.

Insane Ruminations

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Begin your journey to the city of Winterhold. The College is linked to it by a bridge. At the bridge’s near end, a High Elf wizard guards the entrance. She stops you, warning that it’s not safe to cross the bridge and that you will be denied entrance to the city...