Elder Knowledge Elder Knowledge is a quest available in . The quest is the twelfth in the main questline of . The quest is particularly long , spanning five different locations , including two Dwemer Ruins . During the quest , much of the lore behind Elder Scrolls themselves is revealed . Walkthrough . Paarthurnax . Speak with Paarthurnax and ask about the Elder Scroll . Arngeir / Esbern . To learn more about the Elder Scroll , visit High Hrothgar and speak with Arngeir , or speak with Esbern at Sky Haven Temple . Regardless of who is asked , both will say to visit the College of Winterhold . College of Winterhold . Upon arrival to the College of Winterhold , the player will be met by an Altmer named Faralda . If the College of Winterhold was not yet joined , the Dragonborn will be prevented from entering the college . There are several options to gain entry : Should the Dragonborn succeed in one of these actions , Faralda will allow entrance into the College . Once access to the college has been granted , the Dragonborn needs to locate Urag gro - Shub , who runs the Arcanaeum , the library located in the College . Then , he should be asked about the Elder Scrolls . Urag will place the two books written about them on his desk for the Dragonborn to take . If one has not yet started the side quest " Discerning the Transmundane , " reading " Ruminations on the Elder Scrolls " will begin that quest . After telling Urag that the " Ruminations on the Elder Scrolls " is incomprehensible , he will say that the book was written by an expert on the Elder Scrolls , Septimus Signus . He gives the Dragonborn the last known location of Septimus . Alternatively , one can simply go to Septimus Signus ' Outpost , and avoid entering the College altogether . Septimus Signus . Go to Septimus Signus ' s Outpost , the northern iceberg where Septimus has made his home . Climb down the ladder to find Septimus working on a Dwemer Box . Ask Septimus about the Elder Scroll , and he will say that it is hidden in the depths of Blackreach , a large underground Dwemer city that lies underneath the ruins of Alftand and many other Dwemer ruins . He will give an Attunement Sphere needed to gain entry to Blackreach , and the Blank Lexicon . Alftand . The next stage of the mission leads to Alftand , leading on to the ancient underground city of Blackreach . This portion of the quest can be difficult for lower - level characters , as Blackreach contains many Falmer and Dwarven Animunculi . Alftand is located in the glacial mountains southwest of Winterhold . When entering Alftand , one will need to travel throughout large glacial tunnels . Follow the tunnel until reaching the Dwemer Ruins . When reaching the barred door , proceed to the passage that heads west up a ramp . Continue north , and there will be two Dwarven Spheres . Kill or avoid them and head through the door and up to a Dwarven Spider – infested passage stretching south . This main passage leads east , above the room with the Dwemer Spheres in it . Dodge the pistons and continue on to the Alftand Animonculory . Animonculory . Travel through the Alftand Animonculory , past the spinning blades , to find a locked gate . There is a lever on the right by the big pipe and on the other side of the gate that is accessible from the far left position . Open the gate and proceed to a massive shaft in the Animonculory . Travel down this shaft and within it are four Falmer . Dispatch or sneak by them . Alternatively , use the Become Ethereal shout to jump straight to the bottom . Taking this course could potentially cause the Dragonborn to be overwhelmed by the number of Falmer at the bottom , and bypasses valuable items on the way down . Midway down the shaft , one of the ramps is broken , requiring a jump down to the platform below . This could potentially result in taking some damage . To minimize damage , jump to the pipe on the right side to descend approximately halfway down prior to jumping . At this point returning to the levels above is only possible by continuing to another exit and re - entering Alftand . Once at the bottom there is an entrance to a door preceded by fire jets . While it is possible to walk through the fire jets to the door , it is also possible to avoid taking fire damage by passing through a small gap between the pipes on the left side . Enter the door , which leads to a Falmer nest . Go through the nest , dispatching or avoiding the Falmer inside . Go though the door on the southwest . This leads to a bridge , followed by another looping walkway containing several Falmer and at least one Frostbite Spider . Alftand Cathedral . Now enter the Alftand Cathedral . Battle or avoid the two Falmer . Travel up the stairs and activate the switch , then pass through the newly opened gate . There will be a Dwarven Centurion that must be defeated , as it holds the key needed to proceed . A simple way to defeat the Centurion is to lean in the left part of the gate , and firing an arrow at the Centurion . As it comes close , it will try to fire steam at the Dragonborn . Go far until the steam ' s range , and fire arrows from there . The Fire Breath Shout is also effective with the same strategy , but arrows make the fight go faster . Another option is to walk back down the stairs . The Centurion will follow . Let it try to catch up around the round " water well . " A Frostbite spider will appear and start attacking the Centurion . Wait , and the spider will damage or destroy the Centurion . Next , proceed to the gate on the southwest where there will be two hostile adventurers , Sulla and Umanan , arguing . Engage or sneak past them to continue . If remaining concealed , they will eventually fight , leaving one survivor . Proceed to the Dwarven Mechanism and insert the Attunement Sphere . The floor will part , revealing stairs down to a hidden door and an entrance into the undercity of Blackreach . Blackreach . One can exit Blackreach using the Dwarven Elevator just left of their location . There are several Dwarven Centurion along the road , but it is possible to avoid them . Dispatch or sneak by the Dwemer Sphere and the Falmer ( a very easy way to dispose of the sphere is to activate the nearby crossbow before the sphere activates , as this kills it instantly ) , and follow the cobblestone path southeast to a button encased on a Dwarven head pedestal . Press it , and the elevator behind lights up , allowing access to the elevator to ascend and exit back outside . Open the gate to allow later entry from the Great Lift of Alftand . Follow the quest marker to the far southwest corner of the map . This will lead to the Tower of Mzark , where the Scroll resides . Oculory Operation . Once inside the Tower of Mzark , one will come to a room with a number of alchemical ingredients and other items . The Oculory is through the door on the far side of the room . Go up the spiral ramp . Near the top is a level area with desks , ruined books , and a door to an elevator to the surface . Near the door is a dead body , Drokt . The " Journal of Drokt " is next to his skeletal remains . Go up the ramp above the elevator door to the controls . The controls consist of a Lexicon Receptacle and four positioning buttons embedded in pedestals . Activate the Lexicon Receptacle , so the Blank Lexicon rests on top of it . The two pedestals to the Receptacle ’ s left , the only ones currently active , open and close the Oculory lenses . Press the taller of the two pedestals ( right of the pedestal with the lens chart on it in the middle of the buttons ) until the pedestal with the blue button to the left of the middle one starts to glow . Move to this new pedestal ( at this point , the Blank Lexicon may be glowing blue ) . The two pedestals to the left of the lens chart , the taller of which is now active , control the ceiling lens array . Press the button of the taller , left pedestal twice , until the button on the left of that ( the smaller pedestal ) begins to glow . Note , if the left button is pressed too many times , one may have to start over with the farthest right button pedestal ( as a reset ) . Now press that button , and a large set of lens crystals descends from the ceiling and stops . The main crystal rotates and splits apart to reveal a tube - like carrying device , which contains the Elder Scroll . Acquiring the scroll completes this quest . Retrieve the Lexicon in order to continue " Discerning the Transmundane . "