Most gamers know the name of The Elder Scrolls franchise. But what exactly is an Elder Scroll? Even the in-game lore is a bit hazy on the subject, giving the player only a glimpse of their true power and potential. Despite the vagueness, it's unquestionable that these objects are a source of tremendous value and knowledge.

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Individual Elder Scrolls often play a role in the plot of either a main quest or a side quest. Thus, their contents can be divined, at least to some extent. Some seem to offer prophecies while others contain vast stores of knowledge. Their importance is unmistakable. After all, why else would the series be named after them?

5 Dragon

The Dragon Elder Scroll From The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim

The Dragon Elder Scroll plays a significant role in the main quest of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Found within the Tower of Mzark in Blackreach the scroll contains vastly important knowledge from ancient days. The player uses it to glimpse pieces of the past in order to learn the Dragonrend Shout. But the scroll's true power goes much deeper than that.

The legendary Nord hero Felldir the Old managed to tap into the Elder Scroll's archaic knowledge during the rebellion against Alduin. The scroll's magic worked and the World-Eater was sent forward in time to an unspecified point in the future. Based on Felldir's reading of the scroll it can be surmised that the artifact utilizes the power of Kyne in order to banish the Dragon. A portion of the text reads: "Sister Hawk, grant us your sacred breath to make this contract heard! Begone, World-Eater!"

4 Sun

The Sun Elder Scroll Being Read In The Elder Scrolls V Dawnguard

This particular Elder Scroll remained hidden for centuries. Only Valerica, a vampire hiding in the Soul Cairn, knew its location. The Dragonborn manages to unearth the Sun Elder Scroll in Dimhollow Crypt. Surprisingly, buried alongside the scroll is Valerica's daughter Serana, another vampire who is unwilling to part with the artifact under any circumstances.

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The player soon discovers the reason behind why the scroll was hidden so well. When translated by Dexion Evicus he reports a vision regarding Auriel's Bow and a prophecy centered around the disappearance of the sun itself. Evicus is soon rendered blind after the reading. He also explains that the Dragon and Blood Elder Scrolls are needed in order to understand the full implications of the prophecy. The text mentions that "among the night's children, a dread lord will rise" and that "night and day will be as one." This revelation is meant to coincide with the return of the Dragons.

3 Blood

The Blood Scroll Carried By Serana In The Elder Scrolls V Dawnguard

The Blood scroll fills in the missing blanks of the prophecy established by the Sun Elder Scroll. It can be found in the Soul Cairn in Valerica's possession. Once the Dragon, Sun, and Blood scrolls have been collected the terrifying ramifications of the prophecy are finally revealed.

They speak of an event called the "Tyranny of the Sun" in which the sun itself is able to be blotted from the sky if the necessary preparations are made. Lord Harkon seeks to bring this event to fruition through the use of Auriel's Bow and the ritual sacrifice of his daughter Serana. The Dragonborn needs to decide whether or not to stop or encourage these events from taking place.

2 The Oblivion Elder Scroll

An Elder Scroll In The Elder Scroll IV Oblivion

This Elder Scroll is locked within the confines of the Imperial Palace in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Its name is unknown, but its function can be deduced at the conclusion of "The Ultimate Heist" quest. The artifact needs to be stolen from the Moth Priests in their library.

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The player eventually learns that the Gray Fox needs the Elder Scroll to lift a curse. It's revealed that the Gray Cowl of Nocturnal renders the wearer instantly forgettable in the minds of others. Corvus Umbranox, the current Gray Fox, grew tired of this state of affairs and sought the knowledge of an Elder Scroll. The one retrieved from the Imperial Library contains the secret to removing such curses, though the details are a bit vague. The cowl itself, now purged of its curse, is given to the player as a reward.

1 The Planemeld Obverse Scroll

An Elder Scroll From The Elder Scrolls Online

The Vestige is tasked with rescuing this unnamed Elder Scroll at the behest of the Moth Priestess Terran Arminus. It's located within White-Gold Tower, a place that is currently overrun by Daedra. Along the way the priestess divulges some of the contents of the scroll to the player. Apparently, the fact that the relic needs rescuing in the first place was originally foretold to her by the same Elder Scroll.

When the scroll is apparently stolen by Clivia Tharn, Arminus reveals even more about the relic's contents. It supposedly warned her that "the Empress Regent is a shadow of herself." By the end of the quest the player learns that the Clivia Tharn who absconded with the scroll was a Daedra in disguise. It's only then that Arminus and the Vestige are able to understand the prophecy's hidden meaning.

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