The Fallen The Fallen is a quest available in . This quest starts immediately after " Alduin ' s Bane " is completed . However , if the Civil War quest line is incomplete or not started , it will be put on hold shortly after it starts for " Season Unending " to commence . Walkthrough . After Alduin escapes from the Throat of the World at the end of the previous quest , the Dragonborn will need to track him down in order to defeat him once and for all . The Dragonborn can speak to Paarthurnax , Arngeir , or Esbern to learn that the best way to do this is to trap one of Alduin ' s dragon allies at Dragonsreach in Whiterun and interrogate him for information . If the Civil War questline has been completed on either side , the Dragonborn can then speak to the Jarl of Whiterun to get his assistance in preparing the trap . If not , the Jarl will decline to help while the war is still ongoing ; this will start the " Season Unending " quest , in which a peace treaty must be negotiated at High Hrothgar between the Imperials and the Stormcloaks to put the Civil War on hold first . If , however , the Dragonborn had killed Paarthurnax by this point in a quest for the Blades , then the truce cannot be called because Arngeir will refuse to help with the negotiations . In this case the only way to continue the quest is to bring about peace by completing the Civil War questline before the Jarl will agree to provide assistance . Once the Jarl of Whiterun has agreed to help , the Dragonborn will learn from Esbern or Paarthurnax ( if the Dragonborn had not killed him ) that the names of all dragons are actually Words of Power , and that Dragon Shouts can be used to call them . The Dragonborn will then receive the Call Dragon shout which will be used to lure Odahviing into the trap at Dragonsreach . The trap can now be launched by traveling to Dragonsreach and speaking with Jarl Balgruuf or , if the Battle for Whiterun was completed in favor of the Stormcloaks , Jarl Vignar Gray - Mane . Exiting through the doors behind the throne room to the Great Porch ( which Esbern incorrectly calls the " Courtyard " ) allows Odahviing to be called and trapped , using first the Call Dragon shout to lure him out , and then Dragonrend to force him down from the sky . Note that it may be helpful to go up on the small balcony to the right and use the Call Dragon shout from there ; the shout button must be held down long enough for all three words of the shout to be completed in order to make Odahviing show up . Since Odahviing cannot be killed , there is no point in trying to fight him or trying to drain his power . Instead , he can be immediately lured into the enclosed area , and the trap will come down on his neck and hold him in place . He will then speak to the Dragonborn , and offer to take them to Alduin ' s lair at Skuldafn in exchange for his freedom . Note : If followers or NPCs insist on tanking Odahviing and keeping far away from the trap , attack him until he is " KO ' d " and then retreat to the doors . When Odahviing ' s HP is restored ( since he is not killable at this point ) , he should attempt to follow the Dragonborn and get trapped . At this point , Farengar may come in and start running tests on Odahviing , with amusing results . When choosing to free Odahviing , a guard on the second floor will help release the trap . Speaking with Odahviing again will allow him to carry the Dragonborn to Skuldafn , which immediately starts the next quest .