Hidden Knowledge Achievement in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

  • Hidden Knowledge

     

    40

    Learn the secrets of 5 Black Books

  • How to unlock Hidden Knowledge

    There are a total of 7 Black books to be found throughout Solstheim. 2 of these are found during the main storyline and are therefor unmissable. The first of these is found in the Temple of Miraak during the mission 'The Temple of Miraak'. The second one is found during the mission 'The Path of Knowledge', at the end of the dwemer ruin Nchardak.

    There then exists 5 more throughout Solstheim, but you will only need 3 more for the achievement. 3 of the 5 remaining Black Books aren't tied to any quests and are therefor the easier of the 5 remaining ones as you can explore these dungeons at your own leisure.

    The location for these 5 remaining Black Books are as follows,

    • Filament and Filigree - Kolbjorn Barrow (end of Unearthed sidequest)
    • The Hidden Twilight - Tel Mithryn (After finishing several sidequests for Neloth, he'll give you a key to the room containing the book.)
    • The Sallow Regent - White Ridge Barrow
    • The Winds of Change - Raven Rock Mine (You'll pick this one up since it's in the same area as one of the words for the Dragon Aspect shout and achievement.)
    • Untold Legends - Benkongerike

    Credit to alanp9 for compiling the information.

    Here is video guide for this achievement, credit to PureEscalationGuides for the video;

     

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Comments
  • Each time you pick up a Black Book, don't forget to actually read it. Once you read a Black Book, you'll be transported to a section of Apocrypha, and from there just do whatever you have to do to complete that section and eventually unlock the secret of that particular book. Complete all five and achievement unlocked. :)
  • There are 7 books, you get 2 if you've completed the storyline 1. Waking Dreams - Main story 2. Epistolary Acumen - Main story 3. Filament and Filigree - Kolbjorn Barrow (end of Unearthed sidequest) 4. The Hidden Twilight - Tel Mithryn (after finishing several sidequests for Neloth, he'll unlock the room containing the book) 5. The Sallow Regent - White Ridge Barrow 6. The Winds of Change - Raven Rock Mine 7. Untold Legends - Benkongerike
  • I really hate those seekers... least favorite enemy in the game.
  • I recommend locating all seven Black Books and reading them. One lets you respec your character's skill points by spending dragon souls after you beat the Dragonborn campaign. Three let you choose a power you can use at free will, usually once a day(three options per book, nine total). The last three let you choose an active effect you can carry with you at all times(three options per book, nine total). Meaning you'll have 18 things to choose from and the capability to respec your character. Let me tell you, some of them are pretty awesome. Not bad. :)
  • Hey... I'm lost in the quest Gardener of Men quest... what do I do to get the pillar down?
  • This achievement was a grind, purely because the black book levels are so cr*p
  • @2 thanks for that
  • @4 Which one lets you respec your character's skill points by spending dragon souls after you beat the Dragonborn campaign?
  • @8 Episolary Acumen, its the first quest book.
  • I will say, going through these books, reminds me of going through Oblivion Gates, only easier, sort of. Those damn Lurkers and Seekers suck. Got to hand it to Bethesda, they know how to make a DLC and always seem to put craziness in it.
  • I love these book quests, the areas are so different than the rest of the game. Nothing will beat the Painted Troll quest from Oblivion though, that quest was awesome.
  • I read the first book you get at the bottom of Miraak's temple towards the beginning of the quest line, when you first meet Frea. When I read it, I wasnt sent to Apocrpyha and walked through all the chapters until I came to a deadend with a word wall, killed all of the enemies and then nothing else happened. I didn't get a respec token or anything like that. Anyone know the deal?
  • @#4 When/how/where do you get these powers and tokens? I went through the first book you find during the main quest line in Miraak''s temple (it was really really boring btw) and i ended up coming to a point where it dead ended at a word wall, I get the shout and then nothing happens. It was a word for Dragon Aspect, nothing else.
  • Which book let's you repsec? Anyone know? I want to make a Stalhrim weapon but use light armor. And by the way, having to use Ebony is such crap, if stalhrim is both heavy and light, why would they make it so you have to use heavy armor, real bad design flaw.
  • The respec option only occurs after you defeat Miraak. It will cost one dragon soul per skill tree.
  • @#12 After you learn the word from the word wall (which should be a "dragon aspect" word) a horn-less dragon should appear. Use the "bend will" shout on him and you ride him and he takes you to miraak. If he isn't appearing try reverting to an earlier save point until he does appear. Hope this helps.
  • Thanks #15 and #16
  • Here is a list of the books I have found and what they offer when you find their secrets at the end. Also where they are found is included Epistolary Acumen: Main Story Dragonborn Force: Your Unrelenting Force Shout does more damage and may disintegrate enemies. Dragonborn Flame: When your Fire Breath Shout kills an enemy, a fire wyrm emerges from their corpse to fight for you for 60 seconds. Dragonborn Frost: Your Frost Breath Shout encases foes in ice Waking Dreams: End of Main Story Allows you to spend 1 Dragon Soul to remove perks from a skill for you to respend. The Winds of Change: Raven Rock Mine Scholar's Insight: Reading Skill Books gives you an extra Skill Point Companion's Insight: Your attacks, shouts, and destruction spells do no damag
  • Fun fact: Benkongerike is taken from the Scandinavian languages (Swedish, Norwegian, Danish) and translates, roughly, to The Kingdom of Bones. =)
  • DEMON BUTLER FOR THE WIN!!!
  • When is the next dlc?
  • @#20 LOL. Yes, I can't wait to get my butler either! Do you get to keep the books once you complete each one, so you can go back it them easily?
  • OK, if anyone has the problem #12 had, it's like that because you're only supposed to explore that book when the Main Quest tells you to toward the end of the storyline. If you've gone in there before hand and find yourself at the Dragon wall with no way out, just read one of the Black books (any one will do) again to return to Solstheim.
  • #12 You have to have learned all 3 words of Bend Will, otherwise the dragon you are suppose to ride won't show up. Same thing happened to me, now I'm searching for the final word.
  • ez

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