Chantry of Auri-El

The Shrine of Auriel

The Chantry of Auri-El is an isolated temple located in across several caves within Skyrim. It once served as the epicentre of the Snow Elf religion, whose cheif diety was the Elven god Auri-El.

Background

It was constructed at the beginning of the First Era to provide a retreat for those that wished to become enlightened. Pilgrims who undertook this journey were called Initiates .

Additional temples existed throughout the empire to worship other deities such as Trinimac, Syrabane, Jephre and Phynaster, but none were as grand as the Chantry of Auri-El.

Wayshrines

The wayshrines located throughout the Chantry played an important part of the process. The represented the steps Initiates took on the path to total enlightenment. The magic used to construct them is believed to predate the First Era.

Snow Elf priests, know as Prelates, tended to these wayshrines. They were responsible for teaching Initiates the mantras of Auri-El. The symbolic rite stated that the Initiate would fill a Ewer with water from the central basin of a Wayshrine after perfoming a mantra. Once the Initiate's enlightenment was complete, they would bring the Ewer to the Chantry's Inner Sanctum. Pouring the contents of the Ewer into the sacred basin would grant the Initiate an audience with the Arch-Curate himself.

Genocide

After the war with the Nedes in the First Era, the Snow Elves were forced underground and eventually de-evolved into the Falmer. As the Chantry was isolated from both the Nedes and Snow Elf alike, it was reletively unaffected by the war or the de-evolution of the Snow Elf race. Over time however, the Falmer discovered the well concealed Chantry and slaughtered the remaining survivors.

Knight-Paladin Gelebor was one of the only survivors left, but despite the genocide, he remained inside the Chantry at his post guarding the first Wayshrine. The Prelates were magically restored to a spectral state to enable them to continue their duties.

Interactions

Touching the Sky

The remnants of the Chantry can be found in Darkfall Cave during Touching the Sky. Knight-Paladin Gelebor can be found tending to the Wayshrine. After speaking to him, he will give the Dragonborn an Initiate's Ewer and use Snow-Elf magic to open the first Wayshrine, leading to Darkfall Passage.

Appearances

• The Elder Scrolls V: Dawnguard Template:1st