The bookcases are locked in the Arcanaeum. They need a key. Where is the key?




???

Urag the librarian has it.

I checked Urag's pockets, he is bare of any keys. At least, he didn't have any keys in my game.

I believe they are for the part of the main quest where you go to him for information on the Scrolls.

Yeah, I seem to remember that at some point he gives you permission to read the books in the library. Maybe you have to wait until that point?

I don't recall the permission part.

he doesn't give you permission, he just goes and fetches some books on the elder scrolls, as far as I know there is no way to access them.

I'm kinda' on the book fetching quests on my 2nd character now and I'll pay closer attention, but I could've sworn that after 4 or 5 trips to get books he begrudgingly gives you permission to read the books as long as you wear gloves or don't spill food on them or something like that. That doesn't sound right?

He never gave me any keys.

Then again, I never asked him about the Scrolls either. I already had it by that point in the main quest (having done Transmundane a while earlier).

Made for an interesting moment on the Throat of the World...

Paarthurnax: "To move through the Time Wound, you'll need an Elder Scroll, but I don't know where to find-"
Me: "You mean one of these?"
Paarth: "..."

FWIW he never gave me keys it would've been just an approval dialogue.

Still, you'd think the Archmage would be given a key to the friggin' library...

I think it is intended for DLC.

Maybe if you do all the book quests... I tried this but then i got bored and gave up.

or you could just use the console and unlock them, the arcaneum has some facinateing reads, i remember when i was once a student there....then urag caught me stealing varieties of daedra and sent thugs after me, afterwards i never spoke to him again -.-

on the topic of books, in winterhold in the alchemist's place, under the counter theres a book which is called something like "dumner of skyrim" and it really put me off dumner, i always thought they were good people, put it turns out there just as arrogant and up-there-[censored]'s as much as the high elves are.

of cource, it may just be that single dumner simply hated the nords, like some nords simply hate the dumner, because according to him (amoungst the repeated slateing and rageing about the nords) that dumner are "flourishing" in the grey quater, and if you want a wonderfull beverage go to the cornerclub....um i dont think hes gone there. XD

its a shame though, i know not many dumner are like that, but to see it in writeing is pretty soul-crushing

at the end of the day i am naturally tied to the nords and the stormclaks, i did the questline and the end wasent the best, but with a mod or two it will be great. i think that the nords need to be given a bit more respect, it dosent surprise me ulfric stood up to the empire, they haven o respect for the nords, the first humans of tamriel , and skyirm is afterall there homeland, so they should be able to decide what they want.

and as for the elves, the nords have a point about they cant be trusted, the snow elves (if you ask me) deserved what they got form the nords, if they had a problem with the nords they should of just said.....nords and elves now days ....

I think its intended for avoiding crashing consoles when people open all the doors and the system has to render 10,000 books.

I've even sold him the Scroll. Have never seen him handing over any keys though. I'm also the Arch-Mage. I better go speak a few words with him right nao!

I don't know about pickpocketing him. but if one were to have full pickpocketing skill one MIGHT be able to take the key off him, I was wonding about this mysekf since I found the Daedric arm in the college basemant and wanted to get the rings to see what it does.

I'm practically positive that Urag is not going to care that you're arch-mage. Hmm. I wonder, can you unlock the bookcases using the console on pc?

I know, right? I don't even get the Well Rested perk from sleeping in the bed in the Arch Mage's quarters.

Ooooo, good point. I wonder if the key is considered an "equipped" item? I have enough perks to get up the constellation - maybe I'll save, get the perks and check his inventory.

Nope. Even with all perks (except keymaster) I still dont see a key on him.

Damn. I should've tried the Skeleton Key before i returned it to Nocturnal.

Well, if you're on pc just give it to yourself using the console.

Um. I can (and have) console unlock the gate by Mercer's place. Lot to be said for playing TES on pc.

PS3.

Should've brought Mercer with me...he even opened a Dragon Claw lock with the 'key' somehow.

Not sure he could outmanage Urag though....