Once Esbern is escorted to Riverwood, during the mission "Alduin's Wall", he will reveal to you that you must find Alduin's Wall to learn how to defeat Alduin the Eater of Worlds. It will suggest that the Wall is located within the ancient Akaviri ruins, which once housed the former headquarters of the Blades, the Temple of Heavenly Refuge. However, entering the Temple is not as easy as it sounds.
Steps
Step 1. Choose whether to travel alone or in a group
You have the choice of whether to reach the Temple of Heavenly Refuge alone or whether to do so in the company of Delphine and Esbern. Going on your own may be the quickest choice, as you just need to use the fast travel or take a wagon to Markarth, then follow the road east. Traveling with Delphine and Esbern is the longest but safest solution, because you will have two companions at your disposal who will help you fight the enemies you encounter along the way.
Step 2. Make your way through the Pinnacle of Karth
On your way to the Temple of Heavenly Refuge you will find a renegade camp. If that's not enough, you'll also have to face the dragon flying around the camp. Prepare yourself with weapons, spells, potions and good armor for a fierce fight if you decide to fight all the enemies.
- By assuming the right position, you can get the dragon to attack the camp. Get close enough to the strong enemy and the renegades will start shooting arrows at the dragon, which will dispose of them for you. At that point, all you have to do is finish the survivors at the end of the fight.
- You can also take out some of the renegades by slowly advancing towards the camp with a bow, sneakily attacking the first enemies you see. This strategy has the advantage of attracting only a few renegades at a time, turning a gruesome battle into a much simpler series of encounters.
- You don't have to worry about Esbern and Delphine's health during the battle. The game considers them to be "essential" characters, which is why you will simply see them drop to their knees when they are no longer alive, even if they are engulfed in the flames of a dragon's breath.
- You can skip a good portion of the fight by running through the camp and entering Karth's Spire itself. Most of the renegades will be busy fighting the dragon, so you'll have a chance to ignore them and get to your destination.
Step 3. Eliminate the enemies inside Karth's Spire
Don't let your guard down once you enter the cave, as you still have to face some renegades, as well as a powerful sorcerer. If you have adopted the strategy of running across the camp, you must also kill the renegades who will follow you inside the cave.
You will find some bedding in the cave, so you can rest to regain health after taking out all the enemies
Step 4. Solve the first puzzle
Proceed inside the Pinnacle of Karth and you will find the first puzzle. You will see three stone pillars that you need to rotate so that the Dragon's Blood symbol (the heart-shaped design) is facing you. This will lower the bridge that allows you to reach the next puzzle.
Step 5. Solve the second puzzle
You will arrive in a room full of pressure plates bearing symbols. At the end of the room you will see a chain, which you must pull to lower the bridge and neutralize the traps. Examine the plates and continue towards the lever, walking only on the ones that bear the symbol of the Dragon's Blood, the same design you saw on the pillars before. Pull the chain to lower the bridge leading to the next area.
This section is much simpler if you have the Swirling Scream Scream available; just use it to overcome all the plates. The Aether Shape Scream also allows you to avoid damage from flames, while the Light Foot feat from the Stealth section allows you to walk on plates without triggering them
Step 6. Use your blood to open the Temple of Heavenly Refuge
You will find a giant stone head and Esbern will tell you that it is the image of Reman Cyrodiil, the earthly god and founder of the Reman dynasty. The area will at first look like a dead end, but Esbern will notice a blood seal on the floor. The seal can only be unlocked by the Blood of the Dragon. Approach it, press the action button and wait for your character to cut off his palm to let his blood flow. The giant stone head will retract and you will have access to the old headquarters of the Blades, the Temple of Heavenly Refuge.
