Labyrinthian Labyrinthian ( Dovahzul : ) is an ancient Nord ic ruin located in the region of Hjaalmarch , in the province of Skyrim . The Labyrinthian was formerly known as Bromjunaar , which was once the capital of Skyrim during the reign of the Dragon Cult . Description . Geography . The Labyrinthian , formerly known as Bromjunaar , was once the capital of Skyrim during the height of power for the Dragon Cult . As a result , the Labyrinthian is perhaps the largest Nordic ruin in Tamriel . The ruins are enclosed within a mountain pass in the Nordic Hold of Hjaalmarch . The Northern Wall overlooks the rest of Hjaalmarch , with a view of the city - state of Morthal and the Drajkmyr Marsh . The southern end is an isolated road leading to the grasslands in Whiterun Hold . The Labyrinthian holds various elements to the pass , as well as memorabilia to the Dragon Cult . The center of Labyrinthian is a traditional circular ruin called the Bromjunaar Sanctuary , which has a statue that can hold Dragon Priest Mask s on display . The western portion of the ruins holds the inner ruins , which houses a lot of the ruin ' s infrastructure and natural caverns . The only way into the inner ruins is with the Torc of Labyrinthian , which is a prized artifact of the College of Winterhold . The Inner Sanctum of the Labyrinthian contains untold numbers of skeletal warriors and even a Skeletal Dragon . Deeper into the ruins are various Draugr s , ranging in power . The deepest part of the Labyrinthian is the Tribune , where Morokei the Deathless resides , as well as the Staff of Magnus . Eventually , the inner ruins end , leading to a cave to the outside . The eastern portion of the ruins are called the Lost Valkygg which are not particularly noteworthy , though it was rumored to be the location of Kahvozein ' s Fang . A dagger that is sharp enough to carve individual Dragon Scales , making it a collectible among Dragon Priests . South of the Lost Valkygg is Shalidor ' s Maze , an extensive labyrinth that had given the Labyrinthian ' s namesake , as well as bringing it into modern - day myth . Shalidor ' s Maze can only be traversed by using the four out of the five schools of magic . Deep into the maze are several secrets such as Glamoril , which supposedly gives the consumer immortality , having belonged to Akatosh before being in the maze . Beyond all of that , there is nothing else to the Labyrinthian nor the former city - state of Bromjunaar . What is also noteworthy is that trading caravans tend to use the Labyrinthian to move between Morthal and Whiterun , though they tend to avoid not to be attacked by Frost Troll s . History . Merethic Era . Bromjunaar was established as a grand temple to the Dragons when the Dragon Cult had reigned across the province , but it was not called Bromjunaar by then . Eventually , the temple settlement had grown into a city - state under the command of the Dragon Cult , called Bromjunaar . Bromjunaar became the capital of Skyrim , where the Dragon Priests would convene over matters throughout the domain . The Dragon Cult had a wide - range that grew beyond the traditional borders of Skyrim . But when Men rebelled against the Dragons , commencing the Dragon War , the Dragon Cult had begun to lose power and dissolve . It was here in Bromjunaar , the high - ranking Dragon Priests of the land had stored away Konahrik , a powerful Dragon Priest mask of unknown origins , as of now . Bromjunaar had begun to crumble when the Dragon Cult was destroyed ; the city ruins became a reminder of the Dragon Cult ' s totalitarian rule over Skyrim and the Nords . First Era . Sometime in the first era , the city - state of Whiterun was under the rule of Jarl Gjalund . During his rule , the Whiterun Hold ' s borders were much larger , encompassing areas of the neighboring holds in West Skyrim ( i . e . , Falkreath Hold and The Pale ) . One of the settlements that were under Gjalund ' s control was Bromjunaar , which indicates that it lived out the days after the Dragon War . At this point , Bromjunaar was but a humble village amidst the ruins , producing Lumber and Stone for Whiterun . Though soon enough , Bromjunaar was ultimately abandoned , leaving nothing to its original name . Nobody was able to take Konahrik ' s Mask and the inner ruins of Bromjunaar were left untouched . But the ruins would garner new popularity when Shalidor , the Arch - Mage of Winterhold , would visit Bromjunaar , using it as his playground . Shalidor has many legends under his name which includes creating Winterhold with a single whisper spell and battling the Rourken Clan in the Battle of Rourken - Shalidor . In an opening amidst the mountains , Shalidor created Shalidor ' s Maze , which is an extensive labyrinth that is used for training Arch - Mage s . Shalidor valued both academic knowledge and practical skills , and so , many candidates were unable to survive the maze . The maze is modeled after an hourglass and from face value , there is no way to leave the maze , unless you have knowledge on four of the five schools of magic . As time went on , the Labyrinthian was no longer being used by Shalidor and it was ultimately abandoned . At one point in time , Shalidor had come across Glamoril , which is supposedly the secret of life . According to myth , he had stolen it from Akatosh and hid it deep in the Labyrinthian . This myth would eventually spread throughout the province , prompting to adventurers to explore it . Kanen the Elder and Mogrus the Dim delved into the Labyrinthian to find Glamoril but died in the process . Both of their spirits were kept to guard Glamoril and have remained since then . Third Era . During the Imperial Simulacrum from 3E 389 to 3E 399 , Emperor Uriel Septim VII was imprisoned along with Talin Warhaft in the Deadlands by Jagar Tharn . Tharn planned for months to capture the throne , and he was able to achieve so in the span of ten years . Tharn had a powerful weapon called the Staff of Chaos , and he split it into nine pieces and scattered them across Tamriel , the staff was the only thing keeping Uriel Septim and Warhaft in Oblivion . A warrior escaped his clutches and traveled all corners of Tamriel to retrieve the missing pieces . The hero was known as the Eternal Champion , and he assembled the staff and defeated Jagar Tharn at the Imperial Palace . The Eternal Champion had at one point visited the ruins of the Labyrinthian in their quest to recover the pieces . The Eternal Champion had retrieved the first piece of the staff from the ruins of Fang Lair , continuing their quest throughout Tamriel . In their sleep , Ria Silmane came to the warrior through a dream , telling them where the next piece is , which was the ruins of the Labyrinthian in Skyrim . The Champion had then traveled to the city - state of Winterhold , to get an idea on the Labyrinthian ' s location , and was directed to Thelen Kaarn , a wizard of the Mages Guild . Before they were given the whereabouts of the Labyrinthian , the wizard gave the Champion a proposition , if they retrieved a tablet from defeating the Fortress of Ice ; then he will give them what they need . And so , the Champion was able to get the coordinates for the Labyrinthian and retrieve the second piece of the Staff of Chaos . The Champion would then set their sites for the province of Valenwood . Because of the Eternal Champion ' s exploits , the Imperial loyalists would travel to the Labyrinthian , using it as a memorial for the hero and to re - trace their steps . Fourth Era . During the Skyrim Civil War in 4E 201 , the Labyrinthian was said to be the location of the Staff of Magnus , a powerful staff . At the College of Winterhold , an agent of the Thalmor , Ancano had taken control of the Eye of Magnus , killing Arch - Mage Savos Aren in the process . The Master Wizard of the College , Mirabelle Ervine had sent an esteemed student to find the Staff of Magnus in the Labyrinthian . The student delved into the Labyrinthian , experiencing afterimages of the late Arch - Mage , who had traversed the ruins many years ago . As they continue , Morokei himself would commune with the student , draining their magic as they go deeper into the Labyrinthian . The afterimages of Savos ' group were eventually dwindling as each of the ghostly students had passed away . At the end of the dungeon , Savos had left the two remaining mages to guard Morokei . The student was able to defeat the two ghostly guardians and Morokei the Deathless , obtaining the Staff of Magnus from the Dragon Priest . Before leaving , the student was encountered by Estormo , who was an Agent of the Thalmor for Ancano . He was dealt with , and the student used the Staff to ultimately defeat Ancano .