Arch-Curate Vyrthur is one of the last living Snow Elves, alongside his brother Knight-Paladin Gelebor, and is the secondary antagonist of the Dawnguard storyline. He is also a vampire, and believes that Auri-El is to blame for allowing him to turn after becoming infected.
Background[]
- "Auri-El turned his back on me. I swore I'd have my revenge, no matter what the cost."
- ―Vyrthur[src]
Sometime in the late Merethic Era, Vyrthur served as the Arch-Curate within the Chantry of Auri-El. During this time he was turned into a Vampire by one of the initiates of the Chantry.
He believed that Auri-El, the Snow Elves' primary deity, betrayed him by not providing him with any protection against disease. In an act of revenge for allowing him to become inflicted with vampirism, Vyrthur created the Tyranny of the Sun prophecy, the fulfillment of which would weaken Auri-El's overall influence on Nirn and provide him some measure of personal satisfaction for his suffering. All that was needed to fulfill this prophecy was the blood of a Daughter of Coldharbour and Auriel's Bow.
During the First Era, the Chantry of Auri-El was attacked by the twisted remnants of his extinct race - the Falmer. Several stormed the Inner Sanctum, but Vyrthur evidently defeated the intruders, freezing them solid within casings of ice.[1][2]
Interactions[]
Touching the Sky[]
In order to obtain Auriel's Bow, the Dragonborn is tasked by Knight-Paladin Gelebor to fill the Initiate's Ewer at five of Auriel's Wayshrines, in order to unlock the Inner Sanctum where Vyrthur awaits with the bow in his possession.
After entering Auriel's Chapel, he can be found seated on a throne behind a magical wall of ice. Approaching him will begin a short dialogue, admitting that he has been waiting all this time for someone to bring the final component to him, namely Serana. Afterwards, he unleashes swarms of frozen Falmer and Chaurus upon the Dragonborn and Serana.
Once the swarms have been defeated, Vyrthur will destroy the entire roof of the chapel in a fit of rage and retreat out to a grand balcony overlooking the Forgotten Vale. He is promptly defeated by the Dragonborn and Serana, leaving his brother Gelebor as the only known Snow Elf.
Conversations[]
Arch-Curate Vyrthur: "Did you really come here expecting to claim Auriel's Bow? You've done exactly as I predicted and brought your fetching companion to me." Serana: "Wait, is he talking about me?" Arch-Curate Vyrthur: "Which, I'm sorry to say, means your usefulness is at an end!"
After killing the first wave of Falmer:
Arch-Curate Vyrthur: "An impressive display, but a wasted effort. You delay nothing but your own deaths!" Serana: "Watch out! He's pulling down the ceiling!" Arch-Curate Vyrthur: "Finish them!"
After killing the second wave of Falmer:
Arch-Curate Vyrthur: "This has gone on long enough." Serana: "Your life ends here, Vyrthur!" Arch-Curate Vyrthur: "Child, my life ended long before you were born!"
After killing the third wave of Falmer:
Arch-Curate Vyrthur: "No... I won't let you ruin centuries of preparations..." Serana: "Surrender and give us the bow!" Arch-Curate Vyrthur: "Death first!"
After the collapsing of the chantry:
Serana: "Enough, Vyrthur. Give us the bow!" Arch-Curate Vyrthur: "How dare you. I was the Arch-Curate of Auri-El, girl. I had the ears of a god!" Serana: "Until the "Betrayed" corrupted you. Yes, yes. We've heard this sad story" Arch-Curate Vyrthur: "Gelebor and his kind are easily manipulated fools. Look into my eyes, Serana. You tell me what I am." Serana: "You're... you're a vampire? But Auriel should have protected you..." Arch-Curate Vyrthur: "The moment I was infected by one of my own Initiates, Auri-El turned his back on me. I swore I'd have my revenge, no matter what the cost." Serana: "You want to take revenge... on a god?" Arch-Curate Vyrthur: "Auri-El himself may have been beyond my reach, but his influence on our world wasn't. All I needed was the blood of a vampire and his own weapon, Auriel's Bow." Serana: "The blood of a vampire... Auriel's Bow... It... it was you? You created that prophecy?" Arch-Curate Vyrthur: "A prophecy that lacked a single, final ingredient... the blood of a pure vampire. The blood of a Daughter of Coldharbour." Serana: "You were waiting... all this time for someone with my blood to come along. Well, too bad for you... I intend on keeping it. Let's see if your blood has any power to it!" Arch-Curate Vyrthur: "What trickery is this?"
Combat[]
In battle, he uses ice magic. Spells such as Icy Spear and Frost Cloak, in addition to a unique variant of Vampiric Drain that also drains stamina, make up the core of his arsenal. He also typically summons a Frost Atronach at the start of the battle. Once his magicka runs out, he switches to his frost-enchanted Elven Dagger.
It is possible to defeat him very quickly and easily when using the full Unrelenting Force shout to blow him off the grand balcony, causing him to fall to his death. However, the armor he wears may become unobtainable as a result.
He will say the following statements during battle:
| Quote | Situation |
|---|---|
| "Come and face your destruction!" | Engaging in combat |
| "Her blood will be mine!" | |
| "You're no match for me!" | |
| "You can't stop the inevitable!" | |
| "I'll scatter your ashes myself!" | |
| "Die, damn it... die!" | |
| "I'll stain the ground with your blood!" | |
| "The prophecy's end approaches!" | |
| "You have no dominion here!" | |
| "I'll darken the skies with her blood!" | |
| "Your suffering will be legendary!" | |
| "Your pathetic powers are no match for mine!" | |
| "Centuries of preparation will not fall to ruin because of you!" | Taunts |
| "I will herald the fall of eternal night!" | |
| "Let twilight fall and blood spill!" | |
| "Your existence is meaningless!" | |
| "Run, coward! Run and never return!" | Losing sight of the player |
| "You only delay the inevitable." | |
| "Pitiful sorcery. You'll not stay hidden long." | |
| "Show yourself." | Player is sneaking |
| "This is pointless." | |
| "Enough of these games." | |
| "This is a waste of time." | |
| "I'll find you yet, coward." | |
| "Craven fool. This isn't over." | Giving up searching |
| "Hide if you wish, it matters little to me." | |
| "There you are!" | Player is detected |
| "This time, to the death!" | |
| "I'll feed your corpse to the Betrayed." | Defeating an enemy |
| "Farewell." | Upon death |
| "Auri-El, forgive me..." |
Notable items[]
Arch-Curate Vyrthur wears the only obtainable set of Ancient Falmer Armor. It can be taken from his corpse once he is killed.
Trivia[]
- Despite being a Snow Elf, his blood cannot be used in place of Falmer blood in the quest "Discerning the Transmundane."
- In the game files, he is named "Althadan Vyrthur."[3]
- This character is voiced by Stephen Russell, who also does the voice acting for other characters like Mercer Frey and Clavicus Vile.
Appearances[]
References[]
- ↑ Dialogue with Knight-Paladin Gelebor
- ↑ Observations in the Inner Sanctum
- ↑ Creation Kit