Throat of the World (Skyrim)

The Throat of the World is a landmark in and the highest mountain in Tamriel.

The Nords believe that men were formed here when the sky breathed onto the land. Hence, the Song of Return refers not only to Ysgramor's return to Tamriel after the destruction of Saarthal, but to the Nords' return to what they believe was their original homeland.

Pilgrims travel from across Skyrim to climb the Seven Thousand Steps to High Hrothgar, where the ancient Greybeards dwell in absolute silence in their quest to become ever more attuned to the voice of the sky.

The snow at the peak is said to never melt. Because of this, a strong alchemical apparatus known as the White Phial was crafted from it.

Battles
The peak of the mountain was the site of the a battle between Alduin and his army of Dragons against the Ancient Nordic Heroes during the Dragon War in the Merethic Era. A second battle took place in the Fourth Era between the Dragonborn and Paarthurnax against Alduin himself.

Elder Scrolls and the time wound
A Time wound formed at summit when Felldir the Old used an Elder Scroll to banish Alduin, creating a Dragon Break. When Alduin reappeared at the summit in the Fourth Era, he began to ressurect fallen Dragons and the Dragon Crisis.

The Dragonborn of the Fourth Era traveled to the summit to ask Paarthurnax for a means by which to defeat Alduin. This led the Dragonborn to obtain an Elder Scroll from an ancient Dwemer Ruin in Alftand. Once it was read upon the mountain the Dragonborn saw a glimpse of the battle between Gormlaith Golden-Hilt, Hakon One-Eye, Felldir the Old and Alduin. This allowed the Dragonborn to learn Dragonrend, a shout temporarily stuns a dragon and inhibits its ability to fly. Subsequently, Alduin was drawn to the sight. Together with Paarthunax, the Dragonborn bested Alduin in battle. The black dragon fled to Skuldafn and opened a portal to Sovngarde, afterlife of the Nords.

Tiber Septim
Tiber Septim, then known as Hjalti Early-Beard, was summoned to the Throat of the World by the Greybeards after his victory over the Reachmen at Old Hroldan.

Climbing the mountain
Most of the enemies who reside on the path to the mountain are wolves. But due to the strength of some Frost Trolls, Bears, Sabre Cats, and Ice Wraiths, which may dwell on the stairs of the mountain, it is inadvisable to travel there before Level 10. Additionally, riding horses or sprinting up the mountain may seem quicker, but can be dangerous due to the path's proximity to dangerously high cliffs. Horses will also be attacked by the foes found on the mountain.

Etched tablets
There are ten Etched Tablets along the trail telling of the founding of High Hrothgar. Reading them all will give you Voice of the Sky effect.


 * Emblem I - Before the birth of men, the Dragons ruled all Mundus; Their word was the Voice, and they spoke only for True Needs; For the Voice could blot out the sky and flood the land
 * Emblem II - Men were born and spread over the face of Mundus; The Dragons presided over the crawling masses; Men were weak then, and had no Voice
 * Emblem III - The fledgling spirits of Men were strong in Old Times; Unafraid to war with Dragons and their Voices; But the Dragons only shouted them down and broke their hearts
 * Emblem IV - Kyne called on Paarthurnax, who pitied Man; Together they taught Men to use the Voice; Then Dragon War raged, Dragon against Tongue
 * Emblem V - Man prevailed, shouting Alduin out of the world; Proving for all that their Voice too was strong; Although their sacrifices were many-fold
 * Emblem VI - With roaring Tongues, the Sky-Children conquer; Founding the First Empire with Sword and Voice; Whilst the Dragons withdrew from this World
 * Emblem VII - The Tongues at Red Mountain went away humbled; Jurgen Windcaller began His Seven Year Meditation; To understand how Strong Voices could fail
 * Emblem VIII - Jurgen Windcaller chose silence and returned; The 17 disputants could not shout Him down; Jurgen the Calm built His home on the Throat of the World
 * Emblem IX - For years all silent, the Greybeards spoke one name; Tiber Septim, stripling then, was summoned to Hrothgar; They blessed and named him Dovahkiin
 * Emblem X - The Voice is worship; Follow the Inner path; Speak only in True Need

Notable loot
At the very peak of the mountain there are two Ebony Ore deposits and two Malachite Ore deposits. Somewhere around the sides of the mountain, just before the peak, there's also one Silver Ore deposit. There is a Notched Pickaxe embedded in the rock close to where the Ebony Ore deposit is.

Quests

 * The Way of the Voice
 * The Throat of the World
 * The Horn of Jurgen Windcaller
 * Elder Knowledge
 * Paarthurnax
 * Alduin's Bane
 * Dragonslayer
 * Repairing the Phial

Characters

 * Karita
 * Paarthurnax
 * The Greybeards
 * Hunters

Creatures

 * Trolls
 * Ice Wraiths
 * Wolves
 * Bears (depending on character's level)
 * Sabre Cats (depending on character's level)

Trivia

 * This may be inspired by a real life parallel - a Buddhist and Hindu pilgrimage undertaken under the mountain of Sri Pada in Sri Lanka, up thousands of steps.
 * In an interview, Todd Howard jokingly mentioned that he would count all the steps leading up to High Hrothgar to make sure it's 7,000. However, it appears that there are actually only 748 steps.
 * A Skeletal Dragon can be found, buried in snow, on the left side of the mountain, off the main path.
 * With extreme effort, the summit can be reached without using the Clear Skies shout. Doing so involves avoiding the strong air currents, by running up against the mountain edge and jumping constantly, trying to constantly reach a higher plateau. Paarthurnax, however, will not be present if the quest to meet him has not yet been given. Once the quest is started, Paarthurnax will appear as normal.