Daedric quests in Skyrim are highly engaging and often involve unique challenges. One of the more complex quests is “Discerning the Transmundane,” which requires gathering the blood of all elven races in Skyrim. While collecting blood from Orcs, Wood Elves, Dark Elves, and Falmers is relatively straightforward, locating High Elf blood proves more difficult. This article provides a detailed guide on where to find High Elf blood for the quest.
Quest Overview: Discerning the Transmundane
“Discerning the Transmundane” is initiated by visiting Septimus Signus’s Outpost, located north of the College of Winterhold. Once you speak to Septimus Signus, he will task you with retrieving the Elder Scroll from the Tower of Mzark. Upon delivering the Elder Scroll and a filled Lexicon back to him, he will then request your assistance in collecting blood from various elven races: Orc, Falmer, Dark Elf, Wood Elf, and High Elf, in order to recreate Dwemer blood.
Obtaining the Essence Extractor
Septimus will provide you with an item called the Essence Extractor, which you will use to gather the blood from the specified races. Collecting the blood samples is where many players find themselves challenged, particularly with High Elf (Altmer) blood.
Harvesting High Elf Blood: Locations
Fortunately, Skyrim offers multiple locations where you can either find dead High Elves or encounter live ones to harvest blood. The tables below list the locations sorted by whether the High Elves are dead or alive:
Dead High Elves
| Location | Description |
|---|---|
| Pinewatch | Find dead High Elves within this bandit hideout. |
| Fort Greymoor | Another location with High Elf corpses. |
| Redwater Den | Offers one of the easier methods to locate High Elf blood without combat. |
| Fort Dunstad | Contains several dead High Elves. |
| Halted Stream Camp | Home to some dead Altmers among the loot. |
Live High Elves
If you prefer live specimens to complete your collection, several locations guarantee High Elf encounters:
- Thalmor Embassy
- Northwatch Keep
- Northshore Landing
- Yngol Barrow
- Hob’s Fall Cave
- Uttering Hills Cave
- Abandoned Lodge
It’s important to note that encountering live High Elves usually involves combat, as these NPCs tend to be hostile. This makes the locations containing dead High Elves a preferable option for those looking to avoid unnecessary fights.
Completing the Quest
After collecting all required blood samples, return to Septimus Signus. He will use the samples to attempt to open the Dwemer Lockbox. This will trigger interactions with Hermaeus Mora, ultimately leading to the demise of Septimus and the acquisition of the Oghma Infinium, a powerful skill-boosting artifact.
Conclusion
Gathering High Elf blood in Skyrim can be a challenging task due to its rarity, but the locations listed above provide tried-and-true spots to find this elusive specimen. Both high-risk areas with live High Elves and more manageable locations with dead High Elves cater to different playstyles, ensuring all players can complete “Discerning the Transmundane” efficiently.
