Hidden glacial valley of the Falmer reached through Darkfall Cave, visited during Touching the Sky. It contains the Inner Sanctum, Auriel's Bow, twin dragons under the lake and a Drain Vitality word wall.
Forgotten Vale is in Haafingar, about 1.0 km north of Markarth and about 0.9 km north-west of Karthwasten. The nearest hold capital is Markarth, which carriages from the other major cities can reach. From there, head north for 1.0 km to reach Forgotten Vale.
Collectibles at Forgotten Vale
Word wall: Forgotten Vale. Teaches "Haas" of Drain Vitality.
Type
Pass
Group
Dungeons
World
Skyrim
How to get to the Forgotten Vale
The Forgotten Vale is a hidden Falmer valley added by the Dawnguard expansion. It has no road and no normal map marker until you have been there. The only way in is through Darkfall Cave in the far northwest of the Reach, south of Mor Khazgur and north of Druadach Redoubt. You go there during the Dawnguard quest Touching the Sky, after Serana's mother tells you where Auriel's Bow is.
Darkfall Cave is full of frostbite spiders and trolls. Cross the rope bridge over the underground river and do not try to go back, because it collapses behind you. The current carries you downstream to a chamber where Knight-Paladin Gelebor, one of the last two snow elves, waits at a Shrine of Auriel. He gives you the Initiate's Ewer and opens a portal into Darkfall Passage.
Darkfall Passage is a long Falmer tunnel with vale sabre cats and the first wayshrine. It opens into the vale itself. Once you have discovered the vale you can fast travel to it directly.
Forgotten Vale map: the five wayshrines in order
To open the Inner Sanctum you must fill the ewer at all five wayshrines, each kept by a ghostly prelate. This is the order you meet them:
Wayshrine of Illumination, inside Darkfall Passage, Prelate Sidanyis.
Wayshrine of Sight, north of where you enter the vale, through the stone arches, Prelate Athring.
Wayshrine of Learning, west through a narrow pass into the river valley, Prelate Celegriath.
Wayshrine of Resolution, above the northwest bank of the frozen lake, Prelate Nirilor.
Wayshrine of Radiance, north through the Glacial Crevice, Prelate Edhelbor.
Each wayshrine also becomes a fast travel portal between the others once activated, which saves a lot of walking in this large area.
What is in the Forgotten Vale
The vale is made of several zones: the Forgotten Vale itself, Forgotten Vale Cave, Glacial Crevice, Sharpslope Cave, the Inner Sanctum with its Temple Balcony, and two areas reached only by paragon: Forgotten Vale Forest and Forgotten Vale Overlook.
The frozen lake holds a word wall for Drain Vitality. Approach it and the twin dragons Naaslaarum and Voslaarum burst through the ice. Fight them on the shore rather than on the lake.
Enemies include Falmer, chaurus, frost giants, frost trolls, frostbite spiders, ice wraiths and vale sabre cats. The frost giants carry the five paragons (amethyst, sapphire, emerald, diamond and ruby). Use them at the paragon platform: the ruby paragon opens Forgotten Vale Forest, where a Falmer Warmonger carries Auriel's Shield, and the emerald paragon leads to a hanging valley south of the Temple Balcony.
Four Unknown Books are hidden across the vale. Bring them to Urag gro-Shub at the College of Winterhold for the side quest Ancient Falmer Tomes.
The Inner Sanctum and Auriel's Bow
Pour the ewer into the basin at the final wayshrine to enter the Inner Sanctum. Inside, Arch-Curate Vyrthur sits on his throne. He summons frost atronachs, drops parts of the ceiling and throws boulders before you can reach him on the balcony. When he falls, a new wayshrine rises holding Auriel's Bow, and Gelebor explains what it can do. The bow is central to the final Dawnguard quest.
Tips for the Forgotten Vale
Kill every frost giant you see; each one drops a paragon and you cannot reach Auriel's Shield without the ruby one.
Walk the rim of the vale for chests, ore and the Unknown Books before entering the Sanctum.
The vale is huge, so use the wayshrine portals instead of backtracking.
Forgotten Vale: FAQ
Is there a Skyrim Forgotten Vale map with all the locations?
Yes. Our interactive map marks Darkfall Cave, the vale itself and the word wall. The vale sits off the main map to the northwest, reached only through Darkfall Cave in the Reach, and gets its own fast travel marker after your first visit.
Can I enter the Forgotten Vale without the Dawnguard quest?
You need the Dawnguard expansion, and Gelebor only opens the way into Darkfall Passage during Touching the Sky.
How many wayshrines are in the Forgotten Vale?
Five: Illumination, Sight, Learning, Resolution and Radiance. You must fill the Initiate's Ewer at all of them to open the Inner Sanctum.
Where is Auriel's Shield?
In Forgotten Vale Forest, carried by a Falmer Warmonger. Reach it by using the ruby paragon, dropped by a frost giant, on the paragon platform.
What shout is on the Forgotten Vale word wall?
Drain Vitality. The wall stands beside the frozen lake and reading it wakes the dragons Naaslaarum and Voslaarum.
