Touching the Sky: Complete Walkthrough and Guide for Skyrim’s Epic Dawnguard Quest (2026)

Touching the Sky stands as one of Skyrim’s most visually stunning and lore-rich quests. Part of the Dawnguard DLC, this mission takes players deep into the Forgotten Vale, a breathtaking, snow-covered realm frozen in time. The quest culminates in obtaining Auriel’s Bow, one of the most powerful artifacts in the game, capable of blotting out the sun itself.

But getting there isn’t a casual stroll. Players navigate treacherous caves, solve ancient puzzles, battle hordes of Falmer and Chaurus, and eventually face off against a corrupted Snow Elf Arch-Curate. The quest demands preparation, patience, and a willingness to explore every corner of a massive, interconnected zone.

This guide walks through every step of Touching the Sky, from starting the quest to claiming all hidden treasures scattered throughout the Forgotten Vale. Whether someone’s tackling this for the first time or hunting down collectibles they missed, this walkthrough covers it all.

Quest Overview and Prerequisites

How to Start Touching the Sky

Touching the Sky becomes available after completing Unseen Visions, the preceding Dawnguard quest. During Unseen Visions, players read an Elder Scroll and learn about Auriel’s Bow. Serana or Dexion Evicus (depending on player choices) will point the Dragonborn toward the Forgotten Vale.

Players must speak with Serana after exiting the Soul Cairn and completing the events at Castle Volkihar or Fort Dawnguard (depending on faction choice). She’ll suggest seeking out Auriel’s Bow and mention that her mother, Valerica, hinted at its location.

The quest officially begins when players travel to Darkfall Cave, located in the northwestern corner of Skyrim, southwest of the Orc stronghold Mor Khazgur. Fast travel isn’t available directly to the cave, so plan on a bit of hiking.

Recommended Level and Preparation

The game doesn’t gate this quest by level, but tackling it below level 30 can be brutal. The Forgotten Vale is packed with leveled enemies, Falmer Shadowmasters, Chaurus Reapers, and Frost Giants scale to high levels and hit hard.

Recommended loadout:

• Frost resistance gear or potions. The Vale’s ambient cold isn’t a mechanic, but nearly every enemy deals frost damage.
• Area-of-effect spells or weapons. Falmer often attack in groups.
• Healing potions. Stock at least 20-30. The Inner Sanctum has few safe spots to rest.
• Lockpicking tools. Several Master-level chests are scattered throughout the zone.
• Serana as a follower. She’s mandatory for the quest and provides solid ranged DPS with her Destruction magic.

Bring a strong bow or crossbow. Many combat encounters happen at range across the Vale’s open spaces, and sniping enemies before they close the gap saves resources.

Journey to the Forgotten Vale

Navigating Darkfall Cave

Darkfall Cave serves as the gateway to the Forgotten Vale. Enter the cave and follow the narrow, winding path deeper underground. Players will encounter Falmer almost immediately, these blind enemies rely on sound, so sneaking is viable if the Dragonborn has decent Sneak skill.

About halfway through the cave, the path opens into a large chamber with a rushing underground river. Follow the river downstream, dealing with Falmer and Chaurus along the way. The cave is linear, so getting lost is unlikely.

At the end of Darkfall Cave, players reach a wooden bridge guarded by several Falmer. Cross the bridge and proceed through the exit to Darkfall Passage.

Surviving Darkfall Passage

Darkfall Passage is a short but visually striking outdoor transition zone. The area is filled with glowing mushrooms, waterfalls, and bioluminescent plants. It’s easy to get distracted by the scenery, but stay alert, Chaurus Hunters and more Falmer patrol the area.

Follow the stream and stone pathways upward. The passage is somewhat vertical, with multiple tiers connected by natural ramps and rocks. Keep an eye out for a small side path leading to a chest near a waterfall, easy to miss if someone’s rushing.

At the top of Darkfall Passage, players enter the Forgotten Vale proper through a large stone archway. The zone transition loads a massive open-world area, one of the largest self-contained zones in the game.

Exploring the Forgotten Vale

Meeting Knight-Paladin Gelebor

Immediately upon entering the Forgotten Vale, players encounter Knight-Paladin Gelebor, one of the last surviving Snow Elves. He’s non-hostile and serves as the quest’s primary NPC guide.

Gelebor explains that his brother, Arch-Curate Vyrthur, has been corrupted by centuries of isolation and vampirism. To reach Vyrthur in the Inner Sanctum, the Dragonborn must perform an ancient ritual by filling Initiate’s Ewer with water from five Wayshrines scattered throughout the Vale.

Gelebor opens the Wayshrine of Illumination, the first of five shrines, and gives players the Initiate’s Ewer, a quest item that cannot be dropped or removed from inventory.

Understanding the Initiate’s Ewer

The Ewer must be filled at each of the five Wayshrines in the Forgotten Vale. The Wayshrines are large, ornate stone structures with glowing blue basins. Interacting with each basin fills the Ewer with sacred water.

Once all five Wayshrines are activated, the Ewer grants passage into the Inner Sanctum. The Wayshrines also serve as fast-travel points within the Vale, which is critical given the zone’s size. Unlocking each shrine adds it to the map, allowing quick movement between distant areas.

The quest doesn’t enforce a specific order for the Wayshrines, but the game’s natural flow guides players through them in a semi-linear path. Exploring thoroughly combat techniques helps ensure nothing gets missed along the way.

Locating All Five Wayshrines

Wayshrine of Learning

After leaving Gelebor at the Wayshrine of Illumination, head north across the frozen river. The Wayshrine of Learning sits on the western bank, guarded by a few Falmer. The shrine is hard to miss, it’s a massive stone structure glowing faintly blue.

Interact with the basin to fill the Ewer with the first water sample. The area around this shrine has several Falmer tents and a few minor loot chests.

Wayshrine of Sight

From the Wayshrine of Learning, continue northwest through a Falmer encampment. The path eventually leads to a large frozen lake. Cross the lake heading northeast. The Wayshrine of Sight is located on the far side of the lake, near the base of a waterfall.

This shrine is surrounded by hostile Falmer and at least one Chaurus Reaper. Clear the area before interacting with the basin. The nearby waterfall conceals a small alcove with a chest, worth checking if someone’s hunting loot.

Wayshrine of Resolution

The Wayshrine of Resolution requires a bit more navigation. From the Wayshrine of Sight, head east and slightly south. Players will pass through a dense forest area filled with Falmer and Chaurus.

The shrine sits atop a rocky hill overlooking a ravine. To reach it, follow the winding path up the hillside. Several Falmer archers guard the approach, so long-range attacks or sneak tactics work well here.

Fill the Ewer at the basin. The view from this shrine is spectacular, it overlooks much of the Forgotten Vale’s central valley.

Wayshrine of Radiance

The Wayshrine of Radiance is the trickiest to reach. From the Wayshrine of Resolution, head south toward the Paragon Platform (a large stone structure in the center of the Vale). The shrine is located southeast of the platform, near a large frozen waterfall.

Players need to navigate through a narrow canyon filled with Falmer and Frost Giants. The Frost Giants are particularly dangerous, they have massive health pools and deal devastating melee damage. Kiting them with ranged attacks or using Serana as a distraction works well.

Once at the shrine, fill the Ewer with the final water sample. With all five Wayshrines activated, the Ewer is complete, and the path to the Inner Sanctum opens.

Many players exploring advanced builds find that maximizing Frost resistance trivializes many of the Vale’s toughest encounters.

Inner Sanctum: Confronting Arch-Curate Vyrthur

Navigating the Inner Sanctum

With the Ewer filled, return to the Wayshrine of Illumination (fast travel is available now). Gelebor opens the portal to the Inner Sanctum, a large dungeon-like structure within the Vale.

The Inner Sanctum is multi-leveled and filled with Frozen Falmer, stationary enemies encased in ice. Approach carefully. As the Dragonborn moves through the sanctum, the Frozen Falmer thaw and attack. They’re identical to standard Falmer but can ambush players if someone’s not paying attention.

The sanctum has several large chambers connected by icy corridors. Follow the main path upward, dealing with waves of Falmer. The architecture is visually impressive, towering ice pillars, ancient Snow Elf murals, and glowing blue crystals.

Near the top of the sanctum, players find a large balcony overlooking the Forgotten Vale. This is where the final confrontation occurs.

Boss Fight Strategy and Tips

Arch-Curate Vyrthur awaits at the top of the Inner Sanctum. He’s a powerful vampire mage with high health and devastating spells. The fight has multiple phases:

Phase 1: Vyrthur stands on a central platform and attacks with Destruction magic (primarily Ice Storm and Thunderbolt). He also summons Frozen Falmer to assist him. Focus on clearing the adds first, they can overwhelm quickly.

Phase 2: After depleting about a third of his health, Vyrthur teleports to a raised platform. He continues casting spells and summons more Falmer. Use ranged attacks or magic to hit him from a distance.

Phase 3: Vyrthur returns to the central area for the final phase. He becomes more aggressive and uses healing spells. Burst damage is critical here, unload power attacks, high-tier spells, or enchanted weapons to finish him quickly.

Tips for the fight:

• Bring Frost resistance. Vyrthur’s Ice Storm hits hard and slows movement.
• Use cover. The platform has several pillars and ice formations that block spells.
• Keep Serana alive. She provides solid DPS and can distract Vyrthur while the Dragonborn attacks from behind.
• Stock up on Magicka/Stamina potions. The fight is long and resource-intensive.

Once Vyrthur falls, he drops some high-level loot and a unique elven dagger with a decent enchantment.

Obtaining Auriel’s Bow

After defeating Vyrthur, the quest isn’t quite over. Gelebor appears and thanks the Dragonborn for ending his brother’s corruption. He grants Auriel’s Bow as a reward.

Auriel’s Bow is a unique weapon with the following stats:

• Base damage: 13 (same as a Daedric Bow)
• Weight: 11
• Special effect: 20 points of sun damage, tripled against undead

The bow comes with Sunhallowed Elven Arrows (x12). When fired at the sun during the day, these arrows create a damaging AOE blast. When used with Bloodcursed Elven Arrows (obtained by talking to Serana after the quest), the bow can blot out the sun, benefiting vampires.

Gelebor also grants access to the Wayshrine of Radiance portal, allowing quick exit from the Inner Sanctum.

Hidden Treasures and Collectibles

Paragon Platform and Frost Giant Loot

The Paragon Platform is a circular stone structure in the center of the Forgotten Vale. It has five sockets corresponding to five Paragons, rare gems dropped by Frost Giants throughout the zone.

Each Paragon opens a portal to a hidden area containing unique loot:

• Amethyst Paragon: Opens a portal to Darkfall Grotto, containing several chests and an enchanted sword.
• Diamond Paragon: Opens a portal to Forgotten Vale Overlook, with a unique shield and several soul gems.
• Emerald Paragon: Opens a portal to Forgotten Vale Forest, containing a unique bow and leveled enchanted gear.
• Ruby Paragon: Opens a portal to Forgotten Vale Cave, with a unique helmet and high-tier potions.
• Sapphire Paragon: Opens a portal to Inner Sanctum Balcony, containing several chests with gold and gems.

Frost Giants are scattered throughout the Vale. They’re tough enemies but drop valuable loot. Paragons are guaranteed drops, so farming all five requires clearing most of the Vale’s Frost Giant spawns.

Shellbug Helmet and Unique Armor

The Shellbug Helmet is a unique heavy armor piece with decent defense and a Fortify Blocking enchantment. To craft it, players need a Shellbug Chitin, obtained by killing a Giant Shellbug in the Forgotten Vale.

Giant Shellbugs are large, beetle-like creatures found near the Wayshrine of Resolution. They’re non-hostile until attacked. Hit them with a pickaxe to harvest the chitin (using a weapon destroys the chitin).

Take the chitin to a forge and craft the helmet under the Armor section. It’s a decent mid-game item, though most endgame builds outclass it.

Unknown Books and Skill Increases

The Forgotten Vale contains several Unknown Books, Skill Books that increase specific skills by one point. Notable ones include:

• “The Refugees” (Speech): Found in a Falmer tent near the Wayshrine of Learning.
• “The Armorer’s Challenge” (Smithing): Located in a chest near the Inner Sanctum entrance.
• “Killing – Before You’re Killed” (One-Handed): Found on a skeleton near the Paragon Platform.

Players working on optimizing their character progression should prioritize grabbing these books before leaving the Vale. Several guides on modding platforms offer map markers for all collectible locations.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Rushing through without activating all Wayshrines. Some players skip side areas and miss Wayshrines, forcing backtracking. The Wayshrines aren’t optional, all five must be activated to progress.

Ignoring Frost Giants. These enemies guard the Paragons needed to access hidden loot areas. While tough, they’re worth fighting for the unique gear.

Not bringing enough supplies. The Forgotten Vale is massive, and leaving to restock breaks immersion and wastes time. Stock up on potions, arrows, and soul gems before entering Darkfall Cave.

Missing the Shellbug Chitin. Many players kill Shellbugs with weapons instead of pickaxes, destroying the chitin. Always use a pickaxe to harvest it properly.

Underestimating Arch-Curate Vyrthur. The boss fight is one of the toughest in the Dawnguard DLC. Players who charge in without preparation often get overwhelmed by his summons and high-damage spells.

Fast-traveling out of the Vale prematurely. The zone has tons of hidden chests, unique weapons, and crafting materials. Players who rush the main quest miss out on valuable loot. Resources from comprehensive guides often recommend a full sweep before leaving.

Forgetting to loot Vyrthur’s body. His unique dagger and high-tier gear are easy to overlook in the post-fight chaos. Always check his corpse before leaving the Inner Sanctum.

Quest Rewards and Impact on Gameplay

Completing Touching the Sky grants several significant rewards:

Auriel’s Bow: A top-tier weapon for any archer build, especially against undead. The sun damage effect makes it devastating in vampire and draugr-heavy dungeons. The Bloodcursed arrows add utility for vampire playthroughs by blocking out the sun.

Sunhallowed and Bloodcursed Elven Arrows: These arrows are craftable after the quest (requires talking to Gelebor and Serana respectively). Both arrow types have unique effects that alter gameplay.

Access to Paragon portals: The hidden areas unlocked by Paragons contain some of the best loot in the game, unique weapons, high-tier armor, and thousands of gold worth of gems and materials.

Skill Books and leveling opportunities: The Forgotten Vale has enough enemies and skill books to gain multiple levels during a single playthrough. Players focusing on advanced tactics often use the Vale as a leveling zone.

Lore and world-building: The quest provides deep lore about the Snow Elves, their fall, and the rise of the Falmer. Players interested in Skyrim’s backstory consider this quest essential.

The quest also impacts the Dawnguard storyline. Completing Touching the Sky progresses the main Dawnguard quest line, leading directly to the final confrontation with Lord Harkon in Kindred Judgment.

For vampire builds, the Bloodcursed arrows open up new gameplay strategies, blocking the sun allows unrestricted daytime travel without debuffs. Many players on game guide platforms rank this as one of the most impactful vampire-related quests in the game.

Conclusion

Touching the Sky delivers one of Skyrim’s most memorable experiences, stunning visuals, challenging combat, deep lore, and powerful rewards. The Forgotten Vale stands as one of the game’s most beautifully designed zones, and the quest’s climactic boss fight provides a satisfying conclusion to the Dawnguard arc.

Whether someone’s chasing Auriel’s Bow, hunting down every Paragon, or simply exploring one of Skyrim’s most hidden areas, this quest offers hours of content. With the right preparation and a willingness to explore every corner, players walk away with top-tier gear and a deeper appreciation for the game’s world-building.

The Dawnguard DLC continues to be one of Skyrim’s strongest expansions, and Touching the Sky is a major reason why.