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How To Go To Ivarstead
How To Reach High Hrothgar
Speaking To The Greybeards
With a dead dragon under your belt, your journey as the Dragonborn continues. If you're confused about what that might mean, you're not alone; most of Skyrim's inhabitants only know the title from old legends.
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The only people who would know are the Greybeards, masters of The Way of the Voice that live sequestered up in their monastery on the Throat of the World, the tallest mountain in the province. Of course, one does not simply walk up the mountain. The quest marker doesn't quite point the way there so if you're lost, this is the right guide for you.
How To Go To Ivarstead
The Greybeards live in a particularly inaccessible location. Mountains are hard to climb at the best of times and with their monastery, High Hrothgar, being as high up as it is, it's even harder for you. To reach them, go to Ivarstead, a town at the foot of the mountain.
Broadly speaking, there are three routes to get to Ivarstead.
- Head east of Whiterun, travelling past the north face of the Throat of the World until you cross a bridge southeast of Fort Amol. Take a winding path up the mountain into Ivarstead.
- Follow the west road from Riften, traveling through the aspen forest to reach Ivarstead.
- Take the south path from Helgen, traveling east through a narrow, frozen ravine until you reach the Rift's aspen forests. Turn north to reach Ivarstead.
At the town, look out for a pair of locals talking about climbing the 7,000 steps to High Hrothgar. They're standing on the bridge to the mountain itself, where you can begin the ascent to meet the Greybeards.
One of the locals, Klimmek, is too old to carry supplies up to the monastery. You can offer to do it for him to earn a monetary reward.
How To Reach High Hrothgar
The climb up the steps to High Hrothgar is more challenging than it may appear. While it doesn't require any physical exertion on your part, you'll still be occasionally attacked by wild animals and monsters, depending on your level. Of note, you'll encounter Ice Wolves, which are deadlier wolves, Snow Bears, and Ice Wraiths. You are guaranteed to encounter a Frost Troll.
The Frost Troll is incredibly deadly to lower-leveled players. The monster has frost resistance, regenerating health, and a mean swing.
If you're struggling to kill it, exploit its weakness to fire and learn to read its attacks to back away and out of range. If all else fails, you can try running past it or finding an alternative route.
Speaking To The Greybeards
The troll is the last hurdle to cross before you make it to High Hrothgar to finally meet the Greybeards. In true mysterious sage fashion, they emerge from the shadows to speak with you. Follow the quest marker to speak to Arngeir, the only Greybeard that will speak without using The Voice.
At his request, use a Dragon Shout on him to prove that you are Dragonborn. Don't worry, he can take it.
This will start a long conversation that gives you the chance to learn more about the history of the Dragonborn. If you wish to progress, select the "I am ready to learn." dialogue option when it comes up.
You only need to explore one dialogue option before you can end the conversation and begin training.
The Greybeards will test you by making you learn a Word of Power, the second word of Unrelenting Force. They carve it into the ground itself. Stand over the carving and look at it to unlock the word. After that, the Greybeards provide you with the understanding needed to use the word without making you use a Dragon Soul.
The trigger for learning the word may not activate when you expect it to. Try to look away and back if you are having trouble.
To test your understanding, they'll summon ghostly versions of themselves for you to test your new shout at. Hold down the shout key to use both words and make sure to hit the phantoms with your shouts to dispel them. Do it three times to end this stage of the quest.
With your skill demonstrated, they'll bring you to the courtyard behind the building for the final test. Here, you'll learn the first word of a new shout, Whirlwind Sprint. Once again, you'll need to learn from carvings on the ground before absorbing their knowledge. Unlike Unrelenting Force, this shout will propel you forward instead of unfortunate victims. Use the shout to pass through the marked gate to pass the trial.
Finally, speak to Arngeir to conclude The Way of the Voice. He will tell you that the next step is to retrieve the horn of Jurgen Windcaller from his tomb. With that, the quest has ended.
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