When entering Sovngarde, walk down the stairs, and there will be a Stormcloak Soldier. He'll say that he can't reach the Hall of Valor due to the deadly mist. In this mist, Alduin hunts for lost souls to gain power. After the conversation, follow the path through the mist. If you chose to help the Stormcloak, he will be devoured. Note: You can clear the mist using the Clear Skiesshout.
Hall of Valor in Sovngarde (Shor's Hall)
Note: the soldier does not always start in the beginning, and there is a good chance the soldier will not be encountered until part way through the mist. Do not worry, the mist will not engulf you as you speak with the soldier.
If you have killed Ulfric, his soul will be here, saying, "We can't get anything done in this fog" and will tell you to turn back. Also, Galmar Stone-Fist can be found saying, "Dragonborn, even in death you dog my steps?" and "How come you're here? The king of this realm will cast you out - cursed be your name by all sons of Skyrim, with scorn unceasing."
Conversely, if you followed the Stormcloak quest, Rikke will be here if you killed her.
At the end of the path, the Hall of Valor comes into full view. The majestic building is situated at the far side of a great chasm that can only be reached by crossing the Whalebone bridge.
In front of the bridge stands Tsun, the Nordic god of trials against adversity who will begin the following dialogue when approached:
"What brings you, wayfarer grim, to wander here, in Sovngarde, souls-end, Shor's gift to honored dead?"
Who are you?
I pursue Alduin, the World Eater.
I seek entrance to the Hall of Valor.
The first two questions give some background about Tsun and his relationship with Shor. He also gives some insight into the current situation in Sovngarde:
Who are you?:"I am Tsun, shield-thane to Shor. The Whalebone Bridge he bade me guard and winnow all those souls whose heroic end sent them here, to Shor's lofty hall where welcome, well earned, awaits those I judge fit to join that fellowship of honor."
I pursue Alduin, the World Eater:"A fateful errand. No few have chafed to face the Worm since first he set his soul-snare here at Sovngarde's threshold. But Shor restrained our wrathful onslaught - perhaps, deep counselled, your doom he foresaw."
In the last question, Tsun asks why he should allow the Dragonborn entry into the Hall of Valor. The right of birth will always be available, however the other options will only appear if the respective guild questlines have been completed:
I seek entrance to the Hall of Valor:"No shade are you, as usually here passes, but living, you dare the land of the dead. By what right do you request entry?"
By right of birth. I am Dragonborn.
"Ah! It's been too long since last I faced a doom-driven hero of the dragon blood."
"Well met, mage of Skyrim. The Nords may have forgotten their forefathers' respect for the Clever Craft, but your comrades throng this hall. Here in Shor's house we honor it still."
By right of blood. I Listen for the Night Mother.
"You tresspass here, shadow-walker. Shor does not know you. Perhaps before the end you will earn the right to pass this way. Welcome I do not offer, but your errand I will not hinder, if my wrath you can withstand."
By right of plunder. I am a Nightingale of Nocturnal.
"Do not mistake the night-shrouded thief's stealthily-taken spoils, stolen and unearned, for a warrior's plunder, won in honorable battle. Your doom already binds you to your dark mistress, but your errand I will not hinder, if my wrath you can withstand."
Once he remarks about the Dragonborn's right of entry, a final question is asked:
Can I enter the Hall of Valor?: "Living or dead, by decree of Shor, none may pass this perilous bridge 'till I judge them worthy by the warrior's test."
This prompts a battle with Tsun. When his health reaches about 60%, he will yield and allow you to cross the bridge to the Hall of Valor. If you try to skip the test, you will die when you walk on the bridge - even if you have god mode on with console commands.
If you use mist form as a vampire lord during this battle he will yield and allow you to cross
Hall of Valor
Ysgramor in Sovngarde.
Upon entering the Hall of Valor, Ysgramor himself will greet the Dragonborn:
Ysgramor: "Welcome, Dragonborn! Our door and stood empty since Alduin first set his soul-snare here. By Shor's command we sheathed our blades and ventured not the vale's dark mist. But three await your word to loose their fury upon the perilous foe. Gormlaith the Fearless, glad-hearted in battle; Hakon the Valiant, heavy-handed warrior; Felldir the Old, far-seeing and grim."
He will instruct the Dragonborn to speak to Gormlaith Golden-Hilt, Hakon One-Eye and Felldir the Old - the three heroes who defeated Alduin in the past. Approaching them will initiate the following dialogue:
Gormlaith:"At long last! Alduin's doom is now ours to seal - just speak the word and with high hearts we'll hasten forth to smite the worm wherever he lurks."
Felildir: "Hold, comrades - let us counsel take before battle is blindly joined. Alduin's mist is more than a snare - its shadowy gloom is his shield and cloak. But with four voices joined, our valor combined, we can blast the mist and bring him to battle."
Hakon: "Felldir speaks wisdom - the World-Eater, coward, fear you, Dragonborn. We must drive away his mist, Shouting together, and then unsheathe our blades in desperate battle with our black-winged foe."
Gormlaith:"To battle, my friends! The fields will echo with the clamor of war, our wills undaunted."
Shor's Hall, reserved of the honored dead.
Once their speech is completed, they will ready their weapons and charge outside to face Alduin. This completes the quest and begins Dragonslayer.
Journal
Journal Entry
I've passed through Alduin's portal into Sovngarde, the realm of Aetherius where the souls of Nord heroes go to feast and battle until the final reckoning. Now to find Alduin and defeat him once and for all.
Objective: Find out how to defeat Alduin
I've passed through Alduin's portal into Sovngarde, the realm of Aetherius where the souls of Nord heroes go to feast and battle until the final reckoning. Alduin has laid some kind of soul-snare across the valley of Sovngarde, a mist where he hides and feeds upon the trapped souls. My only hope is to reach the Hall of Heroes.
Objective: Gain admittance to the Hall of Valor
Objective: Talk to the heroes of Sovngarde
I've passed through Alduin's portal into Sovngarde, the realm of Aetherius where the souls of Nord heroes go to feast and battle until the final reckoning. Alduin has laid some kind of soul-snare across the valley of Sovngarde, a mist where he hides and feeds upon the trapped souls. I reached the Hall of Heroes and met Gormlaith Golden-Hilt, Hakon One-Eye, and Felldir the Old - the three heroes who I saw defeat Alduin in my vision of the past. They have been permitted by Shor, the god of the underworld, to join me in my battle against Alduin.
Quest complete
Gallery
Sovngarde sky
Sovngarde statue
Hall of Valor
Alduin against the sky
Tsun waiting
Alduin defeated
Trivia
Sovngarde resembles Asgard in Norse mythology while the Hall of Valor resembles Valhalla, a giant eating hall reserved for warriors who had died valiantly.
When encountering the Stormcloak Soldier in the mist the player has the option of leading him through the mist to the Hall of Valor. But halfway through the mist, Alduin can land and grab the soldier, and throw him - seemingly killing him (again).
The Stormcloak Soldier is technically dead as soon as Alduin touches him, made apparent by the fact that he is lootable if activated immediately (tested PC only).
The Stormcloak Soldier can actually be saved if the player constantly uses the "Clear Skies" shout as they move along the path. Once at the Hall of Valor, the Stormcloak Soldier will still have the same dialogue as when the player first encounters him. The soldier will help fight Alduin when the player fights Alduin. When Alduin is killed, the soldier will acknowledge the fact that Alduin was slain.
There is a Word Wall along the path through Sovngarde. It is blocked off with stone rubble, however, it is smaller than normal ones and even after Alduin's defeat, it appears to be inactive and unreachable.
Other characters, all labelled "Hero of Sovngarde", will be wandering around the great feast hall remarking upon the food and mead, boasting of heroic deaths, and will particularly note that their god is absent, as his light would blind the player (who is still valiantly mortal). The food in Sovngarde can be taken or eaten by the player, the god's throne sat upon without incident, and the Ox Head at the feast can be taken as well (although it's not actually edible).
There are references to Bloodmoon's quest Betrayal at Brodir Grove. The character you kill to grant him entrance to Sovngarde in that quest is Ulfgar the Unending, who is one of the NPC heroes in the Hall of Valor. Erlendr, Hunroor, and Nikulas, are the three standing stones at Brodir Grove.
Out of all the characters that can be found in Alduin's mist Kodlak Whitemane and Ulfric Stormcloak (or Legate Rikke, depending on the Dragonborn's side in the war) will be seen after Alduin is defeated. This indicates that the other souls were likely to have been devoured by Alduin.
If you freed Svaknir during the Bards College questline, Olaf One-Eye will speak to you about your deed. "You freed Svaknir, a fool of a poet, but an honest enemy who has earned my respect." "Sadly, he's now lost in the soul-snaring mist - defeat Alduin, and his doom avert - I hope to greet him in this Hall as a friend."
If the Dragonborn finished the guild questline for the Companions, College of Winterhold, Dark Brotherhood, Nightingales, the Blades, or the Thieves Guild, the Dragonborn can tell Tsun that they want to cross the bridge to the Hall of Valor for a different reason other than being Dragonborn.
If returning to The Hall of Valor during the fight with Alduin, the entrance has been locked.
Sovngarde's sky resembles the Skills menu, as the scenery displays the Warrior in Red, The Thief in Green, and the Mage in Blue. You will not see your Perk trees though.
If you try to get to the Hall of Valor before fighting Tsun you will be killed either by lightning strikes or by instant death when reaching the end of the bridge.
After acknowledging Tsun, if the player jumps from the bone bridge, the player will have an instant death at half way (this will happen even if the player uses Become Ethereal shout).
Before completing The Companions quest line, Kodlak Whitemane can be heard saying "Sometimes I dream about the mists of Sovngarde", a reference to this mission.
There is a unique soundtrack during this quest, which resembles the chanting of the Dragonborn Theme, only darker and slower. However, there is no unique battle soundtrack.
At the end of the quest, before Tsun sends the Dragonborn back to Skyrim, he says, "Perhaps one day we will meet again, and I will bid you join the feasting." He says this regardless of the Dragonborn's race, even though Sovngarde is reserved for Nords. This could be due to the fact that the Dragonborn just defeated Alduin.
Bugs
This section contains bugs related to Sovngarde (Quest). Before adding a bug to this list, consider the following:
Please reload an old save to confirm if the bug is still happening.
If the bug is still occurring, please post the bug report with the appropriate system template 360 / XB1 , PS3 / PS4 , PC / MAC , NX / PS5 , XS , depending on which platform(s) the bug has been encountered on.
Be descriptive when listing the bug and fixes, but avoid having conversations in the description and/or using first-person anecdotes: such discussions belong on the appropriate forum board.
PC Tsun might be 'invincible' at some versions of the game, e.g. He'll be bending down on the verge of death with a few strikes but does not yield.
PC Solution: use console command setstage MQ304 150. This will make Tsun "acknowledge" you and allow you to pass into the Hall of Valor.
Mist failing to render properly.
PC The mist may either disappear entirely or appear as a very patchy and crude-looking mask over the player's view, ruining the effect. (Observed on a system with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 Ti immediately after the upgrade to driver version 285.62 and confirmed still not working on beta driver version 295.51, February 20, 2012.)
PS3 As you run along the path with all of the mist, it is possible that the mist will disappear as you run.
360 Sometimes if you run past Tsun onto the bridge without defeating him it will state in your quest log that you have defeated him and he will stop attacking you.
