Lost to the Ages Lost to the Ages is a quest in . The quest details the investigation of a lost ancient Dwemer secret and the search for four pieces of solid Aetherium . The quest can be started by locating and reading a copy of the book " The Aetherium Wars " . The quest can also be started by entering Arkngthamz and talking to Katria , skipping directly to the second part of the quest . Background . After finding a copy of " The Aetherium Wars " and reading it , a miscellaneous task of traveling to Arkngthamz in The Reach will appear in the Quest Log . Upon arriving at Arkngthamz , a disembodied voice can be heard warning the Dragonborn to turn back . When continuing through the ruin , the disembodied voice will be given a name — a female Nord named Katria who will reveal that she is on the quest to find the mythical Aetherium Forge . She reveals that she died during an earthquake in the Dwemer Ruin . Katria ' s Journal can be found on her body . In it she expresses her displeasure that her former colleague , Taron Dreth ( the author of " The Aetherium Wars " ) stole her research to publish the book , but she says that she has the leads for the locations of Aetherium and possibly where the Forge may be located . In her ghostly form Katria aids the Dragonborn in retrieving the first of the four Aetherium Shard s needed to unlock the Forge , and thus the quest " Lost to the Ages " begins , with the task of finding the Aetherium shards . Walkthrough . Arkngthamz . Reading " The Aetherium Wars " will create a mapmarker at the Dwemer ruin of Arkngthamz located in The Reach near Dushnikh Yal and Valthume . There the Dragonborn encounters the corpse of a female Nord named Katria and finds a journal on her body that illustrates her findings regarding the Aetherium Forge and the ruins of Arkngthamz . After reading the journal , the ghost of Katria appears and explains that she wishes to complete her research and find the Forge . She attempts to discourage anyone from venturing further into the ruin and insists on accompanying them through the ruin to the Summit . In the same room , she will ask you to retrieve the journal from her body on the small middle island you cross . If you look up from her body , you will see a log jutting out over the chasm , which is where you later find Katria ' s bow , Zephyr . Traverse up several levels of shattered earth and Dwemer steam pipelines , fighting through Spiders , Spheres , and Falmer . Along the way Katria will comment on various enemies and possibly warn you of upcoming ambushes . Shortly past a Falmer camp containing Chaurus , she will comment on the spot where she fell through the ground . In dialogue she reveals that had she fallen two feet more to the left she would ' ve landed in the water and survived . Upon reaching the log where the bow lies , she will comment on it . Retrieving the bow , either by walking across or using Telekinesis , reveals that it is a Dwarven Bow with an inherent enchantment allowing it to fire 30 % faster than normal bows . Arkngthamz – Tonal Lock . Deep in the ruin - just past Zephyr - is a large antechamber with several Falmer corpses , skeletons , and destroyed Dwemer Spheres and Spiders that lay strewn about with Dwarven Arrows . Katria explains that the Kinetic Resonators have to be hit in a specific order to unlock the door , and that when she hit them in the wrong order it caused the earthquake . Katria has the first two successfully numbered in her book . A note found on a nearby dead adventurer reveals the third . Katria advises that they all have a certain pattern . The pattern in this room is to shoot the first on the bottom left , then the one on the bottom right , then shoot the one on the top left , then the top right , then the bottom center , and the door will unlock . Shooting in the wrong order will spawn Dwemer Spiders , Spheres , Crossbow traps , and even a leveled Centurion . Retrieve the Aetherium Shard in the unlocked room . Katria will say that she will go out into the world searching for the remaining three and advises the reading of her journal to see where the others are located . She will appear at each subsequent location once they are found . Note that the map arrows pointing to the shard locations are selected at random , so the order in which each Shard is located can change from what appears below . Deep Folk Crossing . The description for the location numbered 2 in " Katria ' s Journal " , mentions a Bthar - zel , which is northeast of Bthardamz , northwest of Druadach Redoubt , and southwest of Mor Khazgur ; it is located far to the north of the Reach Stormcloak / Imperial Camp . Deep Folk Crossing is a Dwemer bridge going over a river . Venture across it to the north side and up a slope to retrieve the next Shard atop a plinth ( along with a Dwarven helmet , Dwarven sword , and a Dwemer Convector ) . Raldbthar . The location numbered " 3 " in " Katria ' s Journal " is located in Raldbthar . If the quest " Mourning Never Comes " for the Dark Brotherhood is started , then the ruin should be partly cleared . If not , the ruin is on a summit located east of the dragon lair Shearpoint , northwest of Gallows Rock , and southwest of Anga ' s Mill . After fighting through the ruin , the second main area reached is called Raldbthar Deep Market . A room with four buttons will be reached ; press the button that is second from the right to remove the metal bars . A little deeper in , there is a room filled with Dwemer gears , Falmer , and Chaurus . The area needs to be cleared by removing the blockages ( skull , leg bone , human spine , and Dwemer scrap metal ) from the different gears . The hardest to find is the Dwemer scrap metal embedded in a submerged gear under the water . When all blockages are cleared , the power should return to the button that lowers the bridge , and the bridge can be crossed to fight a leveled Dwarven Centurion . After the Centurion is defeated , continue into a series of rooms where Katria will join in fighting some leveled Spiders and Spheres to locate the next Shard . Take the lift across from the room back up to Skyrim to continue the quest . Mzulft . The location numbered " 4 " in " Katria ' s Journal " is where the next Shard is located , in the Dwarven Storeroom right before the entrance into Mzulft . It is found along the eastern side of the mountains of Eastmarch , southeast of Windhelm , and directly north of Cragslane Cavern . If the chamber has not already been cleared , it is just a room with two Apprentice locks and one Expert lock filled with Dwemer metals , scraps , cogs , gyros , Dwarven Metal Ingot s and a Dwemer Convector . Only two out of three doors are needed to be opened in order to retrieve this Shard and the rest of the loot . Regardless of what order the Shards are found in , upon finding the fourth Shard Katria will state that all that is left to do is find the Forge . Aetherium Forge . Upon consulting Katria ' s Journal , the fifth point shows the Forge to be west of the Lake Honrich . In reality , it is slightly southwest and much farther . It is the Ruins of Bthalft , which is located southeast of Ivarstead and east of the Rift Imperial Camp . Upon arriving at the Forge location , bandits will attack . After dispatching them , place the Aetherium Shards on a Dwemer Globe that Katria points out . The ground starts shaking violently , and Katria advises standing back on a wooden platform . The globe will shoot up into the sky and reveal a lift underneath . Take the lift down into the abandoned Dwemer ruin and find the way through , where Katria will remark that no - one has set foot there in over four thousand years . Torches and beacons automatically light the way . At the main antechamber before the Forge , a massive locked door will be in the way . Above the door are two Kinetic Resonators . Shoot them both , and the Forge Room will be opened . The Forge Room . Upon entering , steam will be rising from a grate in the center ; use the valves to shut off the steam and approach the Forge . Upon the approach , a new objective becomes evident : defeat the Forge ' s Guardians , who will appear and immediately attack . Fight off Dwemer Spiders , Dwemer Spider Guardians , and Warped Dwemer Spiders . After defeating the Spiders , Dwarven Spheres , Sphere Guardians , and Warped Spheres will join the fray , and the steam will turn back on . Using the valves , turn it off again and return to the fight . It is recommended to fight on the top decks near the valves and use the steps as a funnel . Katria will either dual wield daggers or use Zephyr . A good tactic is to make use of the Unrelenting Force , Fire Breath or Frost Breath , and area of effect Destruction magic to whittle down the Animunculi ' s strength . After defeating these , The Forgemaster will appear out of the lava behind the Forge . It is the most powerful Dwarven Centurion Master known , and can breathe fire ( instead of steam , like other Centurions ) and is resistant to fire damage . After defeating the Forgemaster , Katria says to get some supplies from the chest near the Forge ( unless some were brought along ) and the Aetherium Forge can be used to craft one item from the Aetherium Shards . There are also , on either side of the forge , two gates that seem to just lead into the lava . If Become Ethereal is used , it can be swum in . If by any chance Ahzidal ' s Boots of Waterwalking from the DLC are possessed , the lava can be traversed , but fire damage will still be taken . Using the Become Ethereal shout , take the left path up to a small chest and another on the right . These paths lead to an overlook position of the forge , making it easier to shoot enemies from a distance . Straight back from the forge is a large chest . To get to it , use the Become Ethereal shout to swim from the right side of the forge to the small island in the middle of the lava , then turn slightly left and the small alcove with the chest in can be seen . It is also a good idea to have resist fire potions because it is a long swim , and the islands are small . Full magic resistance will work as well . Also using a Resist Fire potion of 60 % or higher and Whirlwind Sprint to reach the middle island is advised . Stop and restore health and allow the Shout capability to rebuild , then drink another Resist Fire potion and Whirlwind Sprint to the chest . Another Resist Fire potion and Whirlwind Sprint will allow access to the left ramp back to the forge . The Aetherial Equipment . The Dragonborn can choose from three pieces of equipment . However , only one can be chosen . After forging the selected item , Katria comments on whichever item which was chosen to be forged , and mentions that there most likely is not any more Aetherium in Skyrim . With a sigh of relief , she thanks the Dragonborn and expresses that she is finally at rest , and after a few final departing words , she fades away , to take her place among the honored in Sovngarde . This completes the quest , and awards the Achievement ( Xbox360 ) or Trophy ( PS3 ) " Lost to the Ages . " Katria ' s Last Words . When the quest is complete , Katria says , " " And now . . . I think I can rest . Farewell , my friend , wherever your travels take you . " " She then disappears ( with a bow of gratitude ) , bound for Sovngarde .