Lore:Valthume

Valthume
Type	Nordic Ruin
Continent	Tamriel
Province	Skyrim
Hold	The Reach
Appears in	Skyrim, ESO

Valthume ca. 4E 201

Valthume is an ancient Nordic barrow found on the slopes of the Druadach Mountains in the southeastern part of the Reach, in the province of Skyrim. This ancient tomb is the resting place of the tyrannical Dragon Priest, Hevnoraak. When Hevnoraak died, a warrior named Valdar swore to guard his tomb for eternity, ensuring the priest never escaped.^[1]

HistoryEdit

Nords built Valthume in the ancient times. It was originally a place of worship of Nordic totem-gods. They attempted to convert native Reachfolk to their faith, but their attempts were met with an opposition and eventually they were killed by the locals.^[2]

In its prime, Valthume was a Dragon Cult monastery led by the Dragon Priest, Hevnoraak. In life, he was a master manipulator who enthralled even the most honest and kindred men, creating an army of twisted souls with undying loyalty, and later fear. In his final years, Hevnoraak was obsessed with his resurrection, draining his blood so that his power may be transferred back into his corpse when the time came. His physical body was interred in Valthume, and his followers safeguarded his tomb with the hope of seeing him return. Valdar took on the eternal role of keeping Hevnoraak at bay, and bound his body. Even after his death, Valdar continued to guard Valthume in its vestibule.^[1]

In 2E 582, Valthume was occupied by the Gray Host during their incursion of the Reach. Lady Belain of Markarth traveled to the barrow and rendezvoused with the Gray Host's leader, Rada al-Saran. She was trailed by an enemy agent serving Count Verandis Ravenwatch, who learned about the Lady's allegiance with the Gray Host. After the meeting, Rada al-Saran confronted the agent and told them about his plans for the Reach. The agent returned to Markarth and informed both Count Verandis and Ard Caddach of Lady Belain's betrayal.^[3]

Many years later, in 4E 201, an adventurer delved into Valthume and encountered the spirit of Valdar. As his strength depleted, the warrior feared that Hevnoraak may return to the world of the living, and so he enlisted the adventurer to defeat the priest's undead followers and put down Hevnoraak for good. The adventurer traversed the temple and acquired three vessels that could weaken the lich. Eventually, the pair managed to slay the Dragon Priest and prevent his return. Valdar was able to rest now that his vigilance was no longer necessary, and the adventurer made off with the priest's iron mask.^[4]