Ahzidal Ahzidal ( Dovahzul : " Ahzid - Al " , " Bitter - Destroyer " ) is a dragon priest . Legends call him the first great Nord enchanter and the first human to master elven methods of arcane magic . Along with Zahkriisos , Dukaan , Vahlok , and Miraak , he is one of the five such priests found on Solstheim . History . The man that would become Ahzidal grew up in the first Nordic city of Saarthal during the late Merethic Era . As a child , his aptitude for magic was evident to his tutors . As an adult , he surpassed all of them . With nothing more to learn in Saarthal , he left his wife and child to train under the elven masters . He returned to Saarthal several years later , only to find his hometown had been sacked by the native Snow Elves who had lived in peace with his kind for many years . In his rage and grief , he took for himself the name of Ahzidal , meaning " embittered destroyer , " and swore to exact terrible vengeance against the Mer . Years passed , and Ahzidal would travel the lands and study ever deeper into the arcane arts , biding his time . From the Dwemer , he learned the seven natures of metal and how to harmonize them . From the Ayleid s , the ancient runes and dawn - magic . He sought out knowledge from the Snow Elves , Chimer , and Altmer , taking what he could from each , all the while plotting how he might turn that knowledge against them . When Ahzidal learned that Ysgramor had returned with a war band of the greatest warriors and hunters of Atmora to reclaim Saarthal , he immediately sought them out and offered all of his knowledge to the Five Hundred Companions . Imbued with the magical powers that Ahzidal bestowed upon them , Ysgramor ' s elites utterly decimated the Snow Elves occupying Saarthal , and would eventually end the dominion of Mer over Skyrim . The oath of the " embittered destroyer " was fulfilled . Yet , in his lust for vengeance and power , Ahzidal became ever more corrupted and he eventually fell to madness through his obsessions . Not satisfied with the knowledge of either Men or Mer , he next sought out the secrets of the dragon - runes , which led him into the order of Dragon Priests . Even this was not enough , though , and Ahzidal soon turned his focus on the planes of Oblivion , and came under the thrall of the Daedric Prince of Knowledge and Fate , Hermaeus Mora . Ahzidal finally lost himself , falling prey to his own pursuit of perfection . He fled to Solstheim , only to be sealed away by the Dragon Cult within the depths of Kolbjorn Barrow together with the last of his relics , and the once great human became forgotten by history . Interactions . Unearthed . Ahzidal is encountered in Kolbjorn Barrow during the quest " Unearthed . " From his tomb , he corrupted the mind of Ralis Sedarys and influenced him to excavate his crypt and release him from his entombment . Combat . Ahzidal is a fire - based Dragon Priest , and the mask he wears augments his destructive fire magic considerably . To aid himself in combat , he can reanimate the dead bodies scattered throughout the room . Draugr of various levels will join the fray as well . Ahzidal ' s signature spell Fire Stream deals enormous damage , has a cast time of zero and travels like a bolt of lightning rather than a traditional fireball projectile . This makes it extremely difficult to avoid the attack . To defeat Ahzidal , it is recommended to have very high Fire resistance , magic absorption or both to be able to tank his spells . Sneak - focused archers should have little problem defeating him by shooting him repeatedly while hiding , as the pillars in the room provide ample cover .