While most of the Blades died during the Great War, a few managed to escape the Thalmor. Members īolar's oathblade and writ at a statue of Talos. With the seal, the doors of the temple could only be opened by another Dragonborn. In the presence of all the Dragonguard, he created a blood seal to seal off the temple. After the war, the temple was visited by Reman II himself. It served as an outpost during the Akaviri invasion during the late First Era. Sky Haven Temple was built by the Akavir themselves. It was there where, with the help of the new Dragonborn, the rebirth of the order began. ĭuring the Dragon Crisis, the remaining members of Blades in Skyrim found refuge in Sky Haven Temple. Unfortunately, sometime during the Great War, the temple was destroyed by a Thalmor siege and nearly all members of the defending Blades were slain. Throughout their history, the Blades were known to have their headquarters in Cloud Ruler Temple, in Cyrodiil. One of the requirements of the Concordat was the disbandment of the Blades, thus ending the order's public face and forcing them into hiding. Late in 4E 175, the Empire and the Aldmeri Dominion signed the White-Gold Concordat, ending the Great War. In addition to these heavy losses, the Aldmeri Dominion forces laid siege to the order's ancient fortress of Cloud Ruler Temple, ultimately destroying it completely. By the beginning of the Great War, every single Blades agent stationed within the Aldmeri Dominion had been detected and executed, with their severed heads being presented to Emperor Titus Mede II as the opening declaration of war. Though skilled and numerous, the Blades severely underestimated the Thalmor. This earned the lasting hatred of the Thalmor. Unlike the Penitus Oculatus, the Blades were not bound to Imperial policy and could operate freely. The Blades were among the first to see the growing threat of the Thalmor and the Aldmeri Dominion. The Blades' role as the Emperor's guards was relegated to the Penitus Oculatus, but the Blades continued to work in secret, watching for a new Dragonborn and guarding the Empire. With no Dragonborn ruler to serve, the order fortified themselves in Cloud Ruler Temple. With the death of Uriel Septim VII and his sons, the Third Era came to a close. The Oblivion Crisis marked the beginning of the downfall of the Blades. The true reasons for their invasion remains a mystery, though it is mentioned that they may have been looking for a new Dragonborn to serve or hunting down the dragons that escaped their continent. They later formed the order that is now known as the Blades. It is said that after hearing the Emperor's "voice" or Dragon Shout, the Akaviri forces knelt and swore fealty to him, whom they called Dragonborn. After the Akaviri forces had fought through Skyrim and reached the Pale Pass, they were met by Reman Cyrodiil and his forces. The story of the Blades begins with the Akaviri invasion during the First Era.