From the The Ratway in Riften, it is necessary to travel with Esbern back to Riverwood so he can meet with Delphine. Make your way out of the Ratway by the way you came, avoiding or defeating the Thalmor agents and various underworld criminals you may encounter along the way. Once outside, you need to travel to the Sleeping Giant Inn. Whether you go on foot or fast travel, it makes little difference, though fast travel can save you a long walk.
Upon arriving at the inn, you will be greeted by an incredulous Delphine. After a brief reunion between the two former Blades, they move to Delphine's secret cellar, where Esbern announces his intention to journey to Sky Haven Temple, a Blades headquarters built up around an ancient Akaviri military in the Reach. Of particular importance within that location is a structure from the First Era known as Alduin's Wall, which both recounts the history of the Blades and dragons and details a prophecy regarding Alduin and the return of the dragons.
Delphine soon realizes that Esbern's description of the temple's location matches her knowledge of the Karthspire, and the Blades agree to set out for that location. Delphine tells Orgnarthat the Inn is now his and bids him farewell. At this point, you can choose to either travel with the Blades or alone, heading towards the marker Delphine placed on your map. If you're traveling alone, it may be easier to take a carriage to Markarth and then head east, as Delphine recommends, though you can also take the longer route through Falkreath hold, which is generally easier if you have the Blades with you.
Whether you went as a group or solo, when you arrive at the Karthspire you will find yourself up against a horde of Forsworn, as well as a dragon. Though you can stand and fight, if the battle begins to overwhelm you it is simple to retreat into the Karthspire caverns themselves.
You will now need to journey through the interior of the Karthspire, defeating the handful of Forsworn and making your way to the beginning of the Akaviri ruins.
Heading up the stone steps on the right, you will be confronted with a trio of three-sided pillars, each side inscribed with a symbol. According to Esbern, they are of Akaviri origin, but the one that matters most to you is the symbol meaning 'Dragonborn', which resembles two dragon heads facing each other and an arrow pointing down. Once all three pillars are showing this symbol, the bridge to your left will drop, allowing you and the Blades to continue.
In the next chamber you come to, you will be confronted with a floor of pressure plates, inscribed with the same three symbols as the pillars. Once again, the Dragonborn symbol is the key, and as long as you move across only on these tiles, you can reach the other side. Stepping off of the route will cause a fireball to be launched at you, so moving slowly is advisable. If you prefer, you can use the Whirlwind Sprint shout to move across without triggering the trap.
Once safely across, pull the chain to allow the Blades across, and exit the chamber. You will need to travel across a pair of bridges, and then into the entrance chamber of Sky Haven Temple. Esbern heads for a large stone head built into the far wall, which is according to Esbern the visage of Reman Cyrodiil. In fact, the entire temple is some sort of shrine to him. In front of it is a large carved circle, which Esbern declares to be a "blood seal", requiring the blood of a Dragonborn to function. Activate the circle and you cut your hand, dripping blood on the circle. The stone head then retracts, and an opening is revealed.
Delphine and Esbern take a few moments in the following tunnel to inspect the Akaviri carvings and light the braziers, but you may wish to run ahead and view the temple proper. After arriving behind you, Esbern is immediately attracted to a large relief on the far wall, Alduin's Wall. He moves over to inspect it, taking several moments to fully identify it. Ultimately, he proclaims that the ancient Nords actually used a shout to defeat Alduin, and Delphine turns to you, asking if you know of such a shout. At this point, your best source of information is likely the Greybeards, however much Delphine may dislike them.
Bid farewell to the two Blades, both of them enraptured by Sky Haven Temple, and leave the building. Your next destination is High Hrothgar, home of the Greybeards.
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