Labyrinthian ( Skyrim ) Labyrinthian is an ancient Nordic ruin in . It can be accessed during the quest " The Staff of Magnus " during the College of Winterhold questline . Labyrinthian is located northeast of Drelas ' Cottage and southeast of Morthal . It is in the Hjaalmarch hold and is the location of two different word wall s ; Dismay and Slow Time . Frost trolls inhabit the outside area . History . Merethic Era . The ancient Nordic ruin of Labyrinthian was first constructed by the Dragon Cult as a temple to the dragons . The temple then grew to become the city of Bromjunaar , and it is theorized that the city may have been the capital of Skyrim during the height of the Dragon Cult ' s power and influence , though few historical records exist to verify this . There are , however , some historical records that prove that Bromjunaar was a center for the Dragon Priests , and many of the highest ranking Dragon Priests met here to discuss important matters . During the Dragon War , the city went through drastic changes as the forces of the dragons mobilized to fight against the people of Tamriel who were rebelling against them . After the war ended , the city was abandoned and it fell into ruin . First Era . The name " Labyrinthian " comes from the labyrinth which Arch - Mage Shalidor constructed inside the ruins of Bromjunaar during the First Era to test new Archmages , as he stood at the forefront of a movement to enact higher standards among mages and to discourage magicka usage among the common castes . The name Labyrinthian eventually became synonymous with Bromjunaar and , after some time , the ruins were known as such . Third Era . At some point between 3E 389 and 3E 399 , the Eternal Champion retrieved a piece of the Staff of Chaos from the Labyrinthian to defeat Imperial Battlemage Jagar Tharn . Fourth Era . In the Fourth Era , the city of Labyrinthian was but a memory . Like most ancient Atmoran cities in Skyrim , it had been abandoned and fell into ruin as people migrated and spread across the country . Occasionally , trading caravans will pass through Labyrinthian , but will usually take safer , longer routes due to the freezing cold , snow , wind , and frost trolls in Labyrinthian and across the mountains . Before becoming Arch - Mage , Savos Aren joined an expedition to Labyrinthian . Led by the Arch - Mage ' s favorite student , Atmah , a group of mages ventured into the ruins , searching for the Staff of Magnus and various other items believed to be within . Shalidor ' s writings are specifically mentioned as a hoped - for find by Savos , although they are not found in the passages . Accompanying Savos and Atmah were their fellow mages Takes - In - Light , Hafnar Ice - Fist , Girduin , and Elvali Veren . Half of the group perished in the ruins . The other three reached the final chamber , where they encountered the ancient Dragon Priest Morokei . Desperate to contain the evil power of the Dragon Priest , Savos killed his two remaining companions and raised them as ghostly thralls , who remained in the chamber to maintain a magical containment ward to prevent Morokei from ever escaping . Many years later , the Dragonborn visits Labyrinthian and follows in this group ' s footsteps in order to obtain the Staff of Magnus , needed to stop the machinations of Ancano back at the College of Winterhold . The Dragonborn kills the two ghostly thralls in order to destroy Morokei and obtain the staff . Design and features . This is a very large area composed of many sub - levels , all of which are worth exploring . Upon entering this area , the Dragonborn is greeted by several frost trolls . Labyrinthian Chasm . While going through the Labyrinthian Chasm , several elemental doors are found ; ice and fire . While going through this part of the ruin , a voice speaks to the Dragonborn . Ice door . The first elemental door is the ice door , which is guarded by a Frost Spirit . Upon defeating the spirit , a spell involving fire is required to continue . Fire door . The second elemental door is the fire door , which is guarded by a Fire Spirit . A frost spell is required to open the door . Bromjunaar Sanctuary . In the center , there is a large , raised circular area , similar in appearance to the many Dragon Burial Mounds found throughout Skyrim . Beneath this is a strange ruined altar , where can be found a skeleton , the Wooden Mask , and a thug ' s missive . Equipping the Wooden Mask will transport the Dragonborn back to a time when they will find a series of busts in the place of the strange altar . In this time and place , the Dragonborn can place each of the Dragon Priests ' masks found throughout Skyrim on the altar . When all eight masks are in place , the dragon ' s mouth opens , and a ninth mask is revealed : Konahrik . Shalidor ' s Maze . There is also a door named Shalidor ' s Maze , just behind the location . This leads to the maze of the same name , which is home to one daedra . Upon passing through the door , the next area is a courtyard with a corpse in a circle and the maze just beyond . Approach the corpse , and four staves rise from the ground ; one for Destruction , one for Alteration , one for Illusion , and one for Restoration . Taking the staves is optional , because if the Dragonborn already knows the staves ' corresponding spells , the maze can be completed without having to take the staves . Continuing straight , a Sigil of Alteration is on the wall at the very entrance . Using the Staff of Magelight on the sigil will cause the gate to the right to open . Continuing through the maze , there are skeevers along the way . Many corners of the maze feature " shutters " which contain random loot , one containing a spell tome for Heal Other . Next will be a similar Sigil of Destruction . Using the Staff of Fireballs will open the trapdoor below . Right and up a staircase , to the left side of the maze , then north , ( right , if at the top of the staircase ) , is a word wall for the dragon shout Dismay . From here , turning around and looking south reveals another side of the maze , which is sealed with a Sigil of Illusion . The Staff of Fear will open it . Continuing on as last time , this time killing off an ice wraith , at the end , the Sigil of Restoration is displayed . The Staff of Repulsion will open another trap door . After falling , there will be a large blue globe shimmering in the passageway . This is the portal to fight a dremora of leveled rank and name . He will conjure two atronach s . If he is killed before everyone teleports back to Labyrinthian , the Dragonborn and the atronachs will be teleported out , but not the body of the dremora . The dremora carries the Diadem of the Savant , a circlet which reduces magicka cost for all classes of spells . Lost Valkygg . The Lost Valkygg is a tunnel based dungeon . It is heavily guarded by draugr . They pop out of coffins in most places , but some roam freely . This area has many gemstones , but other than that , there is little loot except what the draugr have on them . Enter through the door which is at the base of the in - ground stairs , as opposed to the door set into the wall face ; that is the exit . The area just beyond the entrance door is not overly dangerous , although several draugr may be encountered . Two draugr are lying on a stone slab , which can be killed before they have a chance to rise and attack . Go through the door activated by pressure pads and follow the hallway to a larger room . Fight the four draugr here , then pass through a wooden door . To the left is an apprentice - level locked door to pick ; avoid the pressure pad just before the door , as it activates a poison dart trap . Beyond the locked door is a steel horned helmet and two burial urns to loot . Exit this small room and proceed in the opposite direction . A Draugr Deathlord guards a chest in the next room , near a fairly deep hole . It may use Unrelenting Force to knock the Dragonborn into this hole . Once the Deathlord is defeated , enter the room behind it to find a chest . Drop down the hole , landing on the beams partway down to avoid injury , and at the bottom do battle with another Draugr Deathlord . These two Deathlords carry randomized ebony weapons , making it possible to obtain powerful weapons , including the ebony bow at relatively low levels . Ceremonial Door . This door is only opened during the College of Winterhold ' s quest to find the Staff of Magnus . The Torc of Labyrinthian must first be received from Mirabelle Ervine . Upon arrival , activate the Ceremonial Door and the Torc will be applied , opening the lock and allowing entry . A Skeletal Dragon rests just inside here , along with many skeletons . These may be fought , or the Dragonborn may sneak or sprint past them to get to the next room . The skeletal dragon is only a reanimated skeleton , so the Dragonborn is unable to absorb its soul ; however , once it has been defeated , it may be looted for five dragon bone s . The Dragonborn must continue to make their way through the lost city from here , occasionally seeing the ghosts of Savos Aren and his companions , as they work to complete the quest " The Staff of Magnus . " While fighting the Dremora , the combatants will be transported back to the entrance of the area , where two atronach s spawn . Each one drops its respective salt ( Frost Salts , Void Salts or Fire Salts ) .