New objective: Deliver the Lexicon to Septimus
First, leave the Tower of Mzark through the eastern lift. Once outside, activate the lever that was blocking access to the elevator from the outside. This will take you back to the surface. Open the world map and make your way to Septimus Signus’s Outpost. Speak to the mage and give him the Runed Lexicon.
If you’re at least level 15, you will automatically advance to the next part of the quest during your second conversation with Septimus Signus. If not, he will ask for time to examine the lexicon and you’ll have to complete other quests in the meantime. Once you reach level 15, you’ll receive a letter from Septimus Signus. Read it from your inventory and then speak to him again to continue the quest.
Septimus will ask for blood samples from five different species. You’ll use the Essence Extractor he gives you to collect the samples. The species are Orc, Falmer, Dark Elf, Wood Elf, and High Elf. You can collect the samples in any order you like, but you’ll need to kill a member of each species to do so. Avoid attacking friendly NPCs to avoid losing quests or services. Look for aggressive enemies instead.
Collecting the Blood Samples
New objective: Collect Orc Blood
New objective: Collect Falmer Blood
New objective: Collect Dark Elf Blood
New objective: Collect Wood Elf Blood
New objective: Collect High Elf Blood
Once you leave Septimus Signus’s Outpost, you’ll encounter Hermaeus Mora, who will tell you that Septimus is no longer useful to him and he’s looking for a new emissary. This won’t affect the quest.
You can now focus on collecting the blood samples. Orcs can be found in most camps, caves, and keeps inhabited by bandits (see screenshot above).
To save time searching for the necessary blood, head to Rift Watchtower located north-west of Riften and harvest the blood of the Orc there. Falmers are commonly found in ruins, dungeons and graves, so returning to the dwarven ruins of Alftand can make it easier to find them. Look for a recently killed Falmer or kill a new creature to collect its blood. Dark Elves are usually necromancers and can be found in camps, caves and keeps inhabited by mages. Head to Hob’s Fall Cave, located west of Winterhold, to harvest the blood of Dark Elves and High Elves. Wood Elves can be found in most camps and caves inhabited by hunters, while High Elves can be found in camps, caves and keeps inhabited by mages. After collecting all five samples, return to Septimus Signus’ Outpost to give him the filled Essence Extractor. Wait for Septimus to unlock a passage to a new location where the Oghma Infinium is located. Interact with the book to choose a prize for finding it.
To receive a prize, it’s best not to skip reading the options, as accepting one won’t have any negative consequences. There are three books to choose from: Path of Might, Path of Shadow, and Path of Magic. Each book provides a +5 bonus to specific skills, depending on the chosen path. After making a choice or refusing a prize, take the book (E) and exit the room. If the prize selection window doesn’t appear, there may be a bug, but you can still read the book from your inventory after the mission ends. Before leaving, you’ll encounter the Wretched Abyss again, and whether you become Hermaeus’ champion or not, the quest will conclude.
FAQ
1. What is Discerning the Transmundane?
Discerning the Transmundane is a quest in the popular video game, Skyrim. It is part of the main questline and involves the player character obtaining a powerful artifact known as the Elder Scroll. The quest involves traveling to a mysterious Dwemer ruin called Blackreach and using a special device to extract the Elder Scroll’s knowledge. This quest is known for its challenging puzzles and unique atmosphere.
2. How do I start the Discerning the Transmundane quest?
To start the Discerning the Transmundane quest, you must first complete the quest “Elder Knowledge” given to you by Esbern in the main questline. After completing “Elder Knowledge,” you will receive a quest item called “Lexicon.” Take the Lexicon to Septimus Signus, who can be found north of the College of Winterhold. Speak to him and he will give you the quest “Discerning the Transmundane.”
3. What are some tips for completing Discerning the Transmundane?
Discerning the Transmundane is a challenging quest, so it’s important to come prepared. Bring plenty of healing potions and gear with a high resistance to magic. Be patient and take your time solving the puzzles in Blackreach. It’s also helpful to have the Detect Life spell to locate enemies in the dark ruins. Finally, be sure to save often to avoid losing progress in case of unexpected challenges.
4. What is the reward for completing Discerning the Transmundane?
The reward for completing Discerning the Transmundane is the Elder Scroll, a powerful artifact that allows the player character to learn Dragon Shouts. The Elder Scroll can also be used to read the past and learn more about the lore of Skyrim. Additionally, completing this quest will earn the player character the “Oghma Infinium” book, which allows the player to select a skill to increase by 5 points permanently.
James, a young and enthusiastic gamer. With a passion for gaming, he personally plays and experiences the games he writes about, providing authentic and insightful content to fellow gamers.