High Hrothgar

*Not to be confused with Wrothgar.*

*"Pilgrims travel from across Skyrim to climb the Seven Thousand Steps to High Hrothgar, where the most ancient and honored Greybeards dwell in absolute silence in their quest to become ever more attuned to the voice of the sky."*
―Imperial Geographic Society[src]
**High Hrothgar** or **Hrothgar** is an ancient monastery located in the peaks of the Throat of the World, the tallest mountain in all of Tamriel. High Hrothgar is the home of the Greybeards, a group of powerful monks that dedicate their lives to studying the Way of the Voice.

## By game

* High Hrothgar (Skyrim)
* Throat of the World (Online)
* High Hrothgar (Legends)

## Description

### Geography

High Hrothgar is located on the peaks of the Throat of the World, perhaps the largest mountain in Tamriel. This was done to isolate themselves from the rest of the province in the effort to study quietly and without disturbance. The only way to reach High Hrothgar was through the small town of Ivarstead, located on the Western edge of the Rift. Ivarstead is the beginning of The Seven Thousand Steps, a long spiraling road on the Snow Tower that leads to the temple. Along the path are several etched tablets that describe the origins of Man and the Dragon War. High Hrothgar has a decent sized courtyard in the back and a pathway that leads to the Summit. The Inner Temple is dark and cold, the winter breeze seeps into the walls and leaves a hollowing echo across the hallways.

## History

### First Era

During the First Era, the Nordic Empire was present at the Battle of Red Mountain, a momentous event for the many denizens of Northern Tamriel, same goes for the Nords. Jurgen Windcaller was one of the Tongues, a warrior capable of using the Voice and he utilized this ability in his campaign in Red Mountain. However, after the Battle and the loss of his men, Jurgen began to undergo seven years of meditation to learn why the power of the Voice had failed him in Resdayn. Jurgen built High Hrothgar as a place to hone his skills and to undergo his meditation. He eventually took on disciples and the Greybeards was formed. Jurgen would later pass away and be buried in the ruins of Ustengrav. His teachings would be passed on for generations.

At one point, the 418th Step to High Hrothgar was destroyed by a Dragon. It was repaired by King Wulfharth. This moment was recorded in the Five Songs of King Wulfharth along with, defeating the Orcish chieftain of the Eastern Orcs and swallowing a thundercloud, so his men would not catch a cold.

### Second Era

During the Interregnum, the Greybeards of Hrothgar were uninvolved with the matters of the Alliance War nor the Ebonheart Pact. During the Second Akaviri Invasion, the city of Windhelm was besieged by the Snow Demons of Kamal led by Ada'Soom Dir-Kamal. There were many casualties such as High Queen Mabjaarn Flame-Hair and Princess Nurnhilde of Windhelm. Mabjaarn's son, Prince Jorunn was fighting the Akaviri in Southern Eastmarch with his Pack of Bards. When he heard the news, he traveled to High Hrothgar to seek aid from the Greybeards, to stop the Akaviri before it is too late. The Greybeards conjured the shade of Wulfharth the Ash-King to help him defeat the Kamal. Jorunn and Wulfharth built an army in the city of Riften, which the Akaviri avoided, they entered the Stonefalls region in Morrowind to reach the city of Mournhold in Central Deshaan. The war continued in Stonefalls in the infamous Battle of Stonefalls.

The Greybeards had foreseen the coming of the Third Empire for quite some time. A New Emperor that would defeat the High Elves of the Summerset Isles and would unite the continent under a single banner. Wulfharth overheard this and traveled to High Hrothgar, assuming that he was this chosen person. When he spoke with the Greybeards, they shattered him, reducing him back to ash. He was not the chosen one; it was a man from the island kingdom of Alcaire. This warrior youth was Hjalti Early-Beard, a warrior under King Cuhlecain, the leader of Falkreath. Hjalti would later follow Cuhlecain to Cyrodiil as Cuhlecain would become the Emperor of Tamriel, Emperor Zero. Cuhlecain would later be assassinated, and Hjalti assumed the throne as Tiber Septim.

### Third Era

Around the time of the Oblivion Crisis in 3E 433, the settlements of Whiterun and Hrothgar was under constant attack ranging from the Horme Bandits and the Frost Trolls of the northern mountains. The raging blizzards of the north did not make the situation any better.

### Fourth Era

*Main article: High Hrothgar (Skyrim)*
When reaching Marcella Varian's youth, she was summoned to High Hrothgar by the Greybeards and travelled to Skyrim with guardsman accompanying her. She met with Arngeir and later Paarthurnax to be her mentors respectfully, and learned the rest of her childhood to her early young adulthood of the Way of the Voice. Marcella than was declared Dragonborn by the Greybeards, which she is also the first female Dragonborn of all time.

Amidst the Dragon Crisis in 4E 201, after Marcella's arrival in Skyrim, the Greybeards of High Hrothgar called to Marcella after they revealed themselves to her by her Dragonblood. Marcella return to High Hrothgar to help them defeat the rising threat of Alduin. Eventually, Marcella had mastered the voice and continued to climb the Throat of the World to the summit. There he met, Paarthurnax, the true leader of the Greybeards and a reformed general of the Dragon War of ye old.

In order to defeat Alduin, Marcella needed to learn the shout that could bring a Dragon down from the sky, a shout called the Dragonrend. She traveled to the northern snow lands of Winterhold to find the Elder Scroll in Alftand. With the Elder Scrolls, Marcella manipulated the Time Wound at the summit to learn the words for Dragonrend. After they have learned it, Alduin himself appeared and dueled the Empress in a Duel of the Tongues. She was defeated and fled to Skuldafn and eventually Sovngarde where he was actually defeated by Marcella in a Battle of the Tongues.

## Gallery

High Hrothgar circa 4E 201.The High Hrothgar Inner Sanctum.High Hrothgar in *Legends*.High Hrothgar (center left) during the Second EraPaarthurnax, the Grandmaster of the Greybeards.
## References

1. ↑ *Etched tablets*
2. ↑ *Nerevar at Red Mountain*
3. ↑ *Five Songs of King Wulfharth*
4. ↑ *The (Improved) Emperor's Guide to Tamriel: Skyrim*
5. ↑ *The Arcturian Heresy*
6. ↑ *Pocket Guide to the Empire, Third Edition: Skyrim*
7. ↑ *Marcella at High Hrothgar*
8. ↑ *Marcella and Paarthurnax*
9. ↑ *Brief History of the Empire, Book IV*
10. ↑ *Marcella's Life*
11. ↑ Events in "The Way of the Voice"
12. ↑ Events in "The Throat of the World"
13. ↑ Events in "Elder Knowledge"
14. ↑ Events in "Alduin's Bane"
15. ↑ Events in "Dragonslayer"

es:Alto Hrothgar