
(Be prepared for a tough boss fight with the Prowler). Return to Shanath once you have all the books. The Book may just pop up on one of the small tables. If (one of) the books don't show up, just slow down and go (not run) once more around the orrery. (NOTE: Adding the books to your inventory via console command will not progress the quest). The books can be found in the orrery room (quest markered room), on the small tables. You will have a note in your inventory ("List of Books") which contains the three books you are to collect for some of the citizens of Sadrith Kegran: Continuing up the sloped stairway you will come across a door to "The Great Hexagonal Library", which will be unlocked by Shanath.
Entering will start the side quest Shadow of the Past.
On the east side of the path is the entrance to Mzinchtamz Tower. You will also find the abyss of aetherium, itself. At the end of the golden road pathway, you will encounter a ringed area with quite a few hostile Dwarven Sentinels. Here, you will encounter passive Dwarven Spider Worker automatons, as well as more hostile Dwarven Sentinels. At the end of this first part of Bkhalzarf, you will reach a door taking you to the Aetherium Abyss. (After crossing the bridge where turbines are (where 2 Dwarven Sentinels guard a door at the end, using bows), this next room contains a lever part on a table, which on being picked up, begins the side quest - Crack'n'Chirp ). Some of the traps activate hostile Dwarven Spheres too.
Some use melee, some cast flames, others use a bow.
Walking through the path to the right with Shanath, you will encounter quite a few hostile Dwarven Sentinels. Once you descend into Bkhalzarf - there will be two paths, one that leads right and one that leads left - Shanath will tell you not to bother taking the left path, and as such, your amulet tunes to the command, preventing you from going that way (until you're free of the amulet, in other words, regained your freedom). Shanath mentions only the Dwemer would not trigger the traps). (Caution: The ruin is filled with many pressure plates, all of which are unaffected by the " Light Foot" perk. After he gives you armor and a weapon, talk to him again to begin your journey. ( Adept Hood and Adept Robes if you say "I'm more of a mage", along with a destruction staff). ( Chitin Heavy Armor if you say "I prefer weapons", along with an Elven variant of the weapon style of your choice). He will provide you with armor and weapons, the style of which is determined by the choice of your words. Meet Shanath near the entrance to Bkhalzarf. (Optional: Persuade Tamina Elenil to give you the invisibility potions). The quest is started immediately after the completion of An Erudite Beverage. Shanath orders you to escort him through Bkhalzarf, the dwarven city beneath Sadrith Kegran, with the aim of retrieving some books from the grand archives.