Miscellaneous and Side Quests

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Miscellaneous and Side Quests

The quests in this section of the guide are all of the type known as Miscellaneous.  Some have proper names while others are named after their intent or description.  Each of these is included here mostly in case you forget the details and to help in completing them.

These quests are NOT part of the main story line, rather they are optional quests that you can do -- or not -- as it pleases you.  The thing about them is that though they are of varying degrees of comlexity and length, they can give you great rewards both in XP, coin, and skills.

Note that the quests contained here do NOT include every quest in the game.  Most of the simple fetch and item quests are not included because they are dead easy and do not require guidance.  The quests that are included either have an element that will help in character or skill development or take you someplace we though you needed to go....

You can scroll down this page of the guide to find all the quests in section or use the links below to jump to the specific quest you are interested in.

A Night to Remember (Daedrix Artifact Quest)
A Chance Arrangement
Evil in Waiting
Silenced Tongues
Ask Aldis for information about Angeline's daughter
Assist the people of Hjaalmarch
Bring 10 Fire Salts to Balimund
Bring one Mammoth Tusk to Ysolda
Bring one The Mirror to Aldis
Bring the Song of the Alchemist to Lami
Bring the Supplies to High Hrothgar
Clear the Foresworn from Kolskeggr Mine
Convince Vittoria Vici to release the Spiced Wine shipment
Craft a Potion
Craft an Iron Dagger -- Smith Training Quest
Deliver Idgrod's Note to Danica
Deliver Sven's Letter to Camilla
Deliver the Stros M'Kai Rum to Falk Firebeard
Deliver the Sword to Preventus Avenicci
Find Amren's Family Sword inside White River Watch
Find 5 Ice Wrath Teeth for Marise
Find Noster's Helmet inside Steepfall Burrow
Forbidden Legend
Give the Frost Salts to Arcadia
Head to the Solitude Court
In My Time of Need
Investigate the Bard's College
Investigate the man wandering the streets near the Bards College
Investigate Shroud Hearth Barrow
Kill the Bandit Leader at the Halted Stream Camp
Kill the Bandit Leader at the Rift Watchtower
Kill the Bandit Leader located at Silent Moons Camp
Kill the Dragon located at Eldersblood Peak
Kill the Dragon located at Northwind Summit
Kill the Giant located at the Bleakwind Basin
Kill the Leader at the Pinemoon Cave
Laid to Rest
Lights Out!
Listen to Brynjolf's scheme
Locate Grimsever
The Man Who Cried Wolf
Marriage in Skyrim
Materials for the Ringmaker
Missing in Action
Obtain a Mark of Dibella
Participate in a Drinking Contest with Sam Guenvere
Red Eagle's Sword
Retrieve Amulet of Talos off of Raggvir
Speak to Elisif with Taarie's outfit on
Speak to Greta about going to the Temple of the Divines
Speak to Sapphire about Shadr's Debt
Speak with the Leader of the Companions
Strongest Arm
Talk to Aventus Aretino
Talk to Irnskar about Octieve
Talk to Jaree-Ra about possible employment
Talk to Lod
Talk to Mikael about Carlotta
Tending the Flames
Use the Arcane Enchanter
Visit the College of Winterhold
Visit the Museum in Dawnstar
Visit the Shrine of Azura
The White Phial
Repairing the Phial

 

A Night to Remember (Daedrix Artifact Quest)

This Side-Quest is flagged by completing the Miscellaneous Quest Participate in a Drinking Contest with Sam Guenvere.

You will find Sam in Whiterun at the Bannered Mare Inn -- when you talk to him and agree to his contest he stands and you take turns pounding down the brew!  After three glasses of his special brew you find yourself waking up in a strange place -- after asking a few questions -- like where in the hell is Sam?!  You learn that you two did some bad things last night...  Clearly this is an homage to a certain movie...  Nuff said about that.

So, you begin with three goals -- Help clean up the Temple, Find the Staff, and Find Sam!

Among the items you pick up is a note that tells you what is needed to repair the Staff -- pick up the rest of the items and then apologize to Senna, and she mentions Rorikstead, our next destination!  We will go ahead and fast travel there and find that Ennis is mad at us!  Before you talk to him go ahead and harvest his Wheat -- it is a strong ingredient in healing potions among other things.  Then we have to answer his question -- just what DO we have to say for ourselves??

It seems you stole his goat and gave it to a Giant!  If I were you I would bribe him -- I did -- because getting a goat back from a Giant?  Naahh!

 

Claiming Your First Daedric Artifact

 

Meeting a Daedric Lord

Paying him off gets you the next clue -- we need to talk to Ysolda in Whiterun!  Wow we were all over the place last night! 

It seems we owe her for a ring -- for our fiance?  Whhaaaatt?!  I did the Persuade choice -- you should be able to as well...  And that gets us the next location: Morvunskar and the wedding!

Windhelm is the closest point you likely have fast travel access to -- at least it was for me -- so head there and then overland to the tower where you find some Conjurers defending it.  Kill them and head inside, working your way down into the dungeon where you find more and even more powerful opponents!  Take them out as best you can and make your way to the marked spot, where you trigger a teleport gate!

And find yourself in a misty glade -- follow the lit path and you find Sam!  Talk to him and let him know you have the items to repair the staff, whereupon he turns into a Daedric Lord named Sanguine who tells you that you were very entertaining!

After you exhaust the chat options with him, he teleports you back to the Inn, and he places a Sanguine Rose (Weapon) which is your first Daedric Artifact (1 of 15) for the related Achievement.  You also unlock the Achievement "Daedric Influence" (10 GS) for obtaining that first artifact!

I have to admit that was a trip!

 

A Chance Arrangement

When you arrive in Riften you will find Brynjolf in the market -- he wants you to steal the silver ring from the strongbox nearby when he causes a distraction, and then place it in Brand-Shei's pocket without him noticing.  

 

Putting in the Frame

 

Putting in the Frame

When you are ready tell him, and when he creates the distraction go to Madesi's stall and pick the strongbox open, grab the ring and then sneak behind Brand-Shei's stall and pickpocket him between the crates to plant the ring.

Once you do that simply chat with Brynjolf again to end the quest, and then you flag the Thieves Guild Quest Taking Care of Business. 

 

Evil in Waiting

As we are collecting the Words of Power we arrive at the dungeon Valthume, where we encounter a ghost named Valdar who requires our assistance in containing a great evil sorcerer who is entombed therein.  We agree to help, and our first task is to obtain three vessels from the dungeon below.

Entering Valthume through the large doors ahead, we find ourselves facing mostly undead and some spiders in here.  As you work your way down into the dungeon you will find what appears to be a dead-end as there is a gate you cannot open.  In the wall directly opposite the gate there is a switch that opens an secret door -- inside is a Deathlord and the first of the containers we are seeking.  Taking the container opens the gate that was closed, so head through the now open gate and into the next area!

We eventually reach the door to the Catacombs, our next target area, after fighting more undead including a Deathlord!  As you progress through the area -- following the marker and really the only way you can proceed -- you will reach an iron door behind which in addition to more Deathlords is the Iron Claw that you need to open the door in this chamber!

The combination for the rings is Dragon, Eagle, Wolf.

 

Eliminating a Major Evil

 

Putting Down Evil

When you enter the next chamber it is really important that you kill all of the enemy in here before you take the vessel, because there is a known bug that can cause it to be impossible to get the Word of Power if you take the vessel BEFORE you kill the four enemy in this chamber.  So you know, kill them first, right?

After they are dead, taking the vessel lowers the bars on the Wall, where you learn the Word Seek, Aura Whisper.  You now have two of the three vessels and you have obtained the Word of Power for this dungeon, so good on ya mates!  One more vessel to go!

The last one is actually on the way back --  as it is really the second one not the third -- so if you already grabbed it you are good to go, if not, fined the nearby chain and open the gate, go in , kill the Deathlord, and grab that last container then backtrack to our friend Valdar -- who is waiting for us in the Throne Room...

He instructs us to empty the containers into the bowl here -- and when we do that we are supposed to sit on the Throne while he unbinds the Liche Hevonraak... I would save if I were you...

Actually not as hard to kill as I had anticipated, so it really must have been in a weakened state!  There is a very cool mask and staff on the body so be sure to loot those!  Then talk to Valdar again to learn that he can finally rest.  This completes the quest.

 

Silenced Tongues

Once you flag the quest you should set it as active as it makes finding the location of the weapons a little easier...  The first is in a coffin, and not too hard to get, but the second is above a throne guarded by a pair of Deathlords and another undead, so go careful on that one, right?

With the two weapons in your inventory you can now open the door and enter the next area, where you will find a ghost named Kvenel the Tongue -- who is the Tongue you need to silence!  Killing him was a little more of a challenge than any ghost has the right to make, but once you do the quest is completed!

 

Silencing the Tongue

 

Silencing the Tongue

When you loot his ashes you find a sword called Eduj that does Frost Damage and some other weapons, as well as gold.  Nearby is the Word Wall with the Shout Hunt, Aura Whisper on it, the third word for that Shout.

Once you have that you are pretty much done here, so head back to the main guide now!

 

Ask Aldis for information about Angeline's daughter

This Miscellaneous Quest is flagged from talking to Angeline Morrard, the owner of Angeline's Aromatics Shop in Solitude.  Aldis is the Captain of the Guard and can be found in the military section of the town -- speaking to him also flags another Miscellaneous Quest for a book, which you will want to do.

Talking to him about the daughter will require you to persuade him -- and you learn the sad truth about what really happened...

I wish it was good news, but sadly not.  She takes it better than expected really...

 

Assist the people of Hjaalmarch

This Miscellaneous Quest is flagged by the Jarl Idgrod Ravencrone following your completing the Side Quest Laid to Rest.  It is basically a three-part helper quest and earns you the title of Thane for the Jarl's holdings.  Why not?

You have already completed the first task, which is Laid to Rest, so there are two more quests you need to do:

Your next task is to complete the quest for Deliver Idgrod's Note to Danica (Idgrod the Younger is the daughter of the Jarl if you did not notice).

Your last task is to complete the quest Bring the Song of the Alchemist to Lami.

You are now prompted to return to the Jarl and talk to her -- doing so earns you the title of Thane!

 

Bring 10 Fire Salts to Balimund

This Miscellaneous Quest is flagged from Balimund the Smith in Riften.

This is a simple fetch quest -- find or buy 10 Fire Salts and give them to him to complete the quest and collect your reward.   You can obtain them in several different ways -- buy them from Alchemist Shops, steal them from the shops, find them as loot, find them in dungeons, and kill the Fire Elementals for them.

The fastest way in my experience was to simply camp out at the Alchemist in Whiterun and wait 2 days for the inventory to change, buying any Fire Salts if there were any, rinse and repeat!

 

Bring one Mammoth Tusk to Ysolda

Ysolda can be found in the Whiterun Inn or walking around the city.  She wants to be a merchant, and as a Caravan Leader offered to teach her better skills if she could bring him a Mammoth Tusk, she offers the same basic deal to her.  Bring her a Tusk, she will teach you what she knows about bargaining, buying, and selling.

If you flagged the quest "Kill the Bandit Leader at the Halted Stream Camp" you can obtain the Tusk you need from the mine that the bandit leader is using as his HQ.  If you have not, then you will have to kill a Mammoth to get their Tusk -- bring help, because those are a tough to kill mob!

 

Bring one The Mirror to Aldis

Aldis is the Captain of the Guard in Solitude, and when you speak with him about the fate of one of the merchant's daughters you have the option to flag this Miscellaneous Quest to bring him a book he wants -- The Mirror -- a simple fetch and deliver quest.

The book can be found in Windhelm at the Palace of the Kings, in the upstairs section in one of the bedrooms at the far end of the building.  This is a Skill Book and adds a level to Block -- but you must steal it to take it, so even if you are not seen there may eventually be an attack upon you as a result.  Bear that in mind!

Once you have the book return to the Captain and give it to him for the reward.

 

Bring the Song of the Alchemist to Lami

This Miscellaneous Quest is flagged by speaking with Lami the Alchemist in the Thaumaturgist's Hut in Morthal.  She enjoyed reading the book when she first began to train in the arts and would love to own a copy of it for herself -- and asks that you bring her one if you find it.

The place to obtain a copy of this book is the Bard's College at Solitude -- and a bonus if that this is also a Skill Book, so read it then steal it and take it to Lami for your reward!

 

Bring the Supplies to High Hrothgar

This Miscellaneous Quest is flagged by Klimmek on the bridge leading to the steps that go up to High Hrothgar -- it is a straight forward task-quest.  He gives you the supplies and, when you reach the landing just before the entrance you will find an offering chest sitting there.  Simply open the chest and deposit the supplies, and then meet up with Klimmek again after you finish up on the mountain to collect your reward!

 

Clear the Foresworn from Kolskeggr Mine

This is a straight-forward clearing quest much like the slay the bandit leader sort, except this time you are dealing not with bandits but Foresworn, and they have a mage that can do some hurt to you...

There will be two or three outside for you to deal with, and then you need to head inside the mine which is behind the house above -- if you have not leveled your armor and defensive skills this could be a tough one.

One of the Foresworn that you kill will have a Black Soul Gem (Grand) that is filled!  This is likely your first of these gems and you may want to save that to use when you remake your main armor once you have Enchantments that you really like...

With the Mine now cleared, return to Pavo at the Left Hand Mine to let him know the good news!  He will reward you with 1500 gold for your efforts.

 

Convince Vittoria Vici to release the Spiced Wine shipment

This Miscellaneous Quest is flagged by speaking to the merchant Evette San in the market stalls in Solitude.   It is a persuasion mission whose goal is getting her shipment released.

The docks and the warehouse are actually outside of town down by the harbor -- if you have not visited there before make sure to flag the warehouse as it is a fast travel location. 

When you speak with Vittoria you learn that there is a 2000 gold tariff on the spices that needs to be paid -- you can either pay it, try to bribe her, or better yet, persuade her to release it without the tariff being paid!  Yeah, free is good!

Now that the matter is settled, return to Evette and give her the good news! 

 

Craft a Potion

You can flag this quest from any Alchemist but the first chance is in the Inn in Riverwood.  The quest giver will give you a simple recipe for a healing potion, and mention that they sell the ingredients.  Simply purchase Wheat and Blisterwort and then use the Alchemy Workbench to craft some healing potions!

You want to remember that recipe and gather as much of the ingredients as you can -- check the full potion recipe in the Appendix as there are other ingredients that will work as well.  You just need two.

 

Craft an Iron Dagger -- Smith Training Quest

The Whiterun Blacksmith Adrianne Avenicci will give you this quest when you ask if there is any work available.  She gives you the quest and the materials, and waits for you to craft the item.  When you bring it to her, she tells you it is not bad but is a little dull, and asks you to sharpen it on the nearby Grindstone.

Sharpen the dagger and return to Adrianne and she then gives you a hide and asks you to tan some leather.  Take the hide to the Tanning Rack and use it to make it into leather -- and she then asks you to make a Hide Helmet, giving you the additional materials that are required!

Use the Forge to make the Helmet and then give it to her, and she asks you to improve it on the Workbench nearby.  Using the Workbench turn the Hide Helmet into a Hide Helmet (Fine) and return it to her.

Impressed by your skills she gives you both the Dagger and the Helmet as your reward, telling you that you have the makings of a fine smith if you keep working at it!

 

Deliver Idgrod's Note to Danica

This Miscellaneous Quest is flagged during conversation with Idgrod the Younger in the Highmoon Hall in Morthal after you encounter her and her brother -- who clearly is afflicted with ADHD.  She tells you about him, and the treatment that they had been getting him, and then asks if you would be so kind as to deliver a letter to the Temple in Whiterun for her?

This is a straight-forward delivery quest, so next time you are in Whiterun deliver the note! 

You will find Danica in the Temple of Kynareth in Whiterun -- just head inside and deliver the note for a 600 gold reward.

 

Deliver Sven's Letter to Camilla

Sven and Faendal are vying for the affections of the Trader's daughter Camilla, and Sven has hatched a plan to swing things in his favor.  He has written a letter that he asks you to give to Camilla and say it is from Faendal that will poison her against him, ensuring that Sven ends up with the girl.

You have a choice to make - you can do as he asks, or you can give her the letter and tell her the truth.

If you do as he asks you can collect your reward from Sven.

If you tell Camilla the truth, you can collect your reward from Faendal.

 

Deliver the Stros M'Kai Rum to Falk Firebeard

This Miscellaneous Quest is flagged by talking to Sorex Vinius in the Winking Skeever Inn in Solitude.  He needs to deliver a special bottle of rum to a client -- this is a straight-forward delivery job.  

Falk is found in the Blue Palace, and once you deliver the Rum to him, there are other chat options that you will want to explore.

 

Deliver the Sword to Preventus Avenicci

When you arrive in Whiterun the first building on the right is the Blacksmith -- and if you talk to the woman smith there -- Adrianne Avenicci -- she will ask you to deliver the sword that she has made to her father in the Palace.  Since you are going that way anyway, why not do that?

 

Find Amren's Family Sword inside White River Watch

Flagged from Amren the Redguard who patrols the market area, this Miscellaneous Quest is a simple retrieval quest.   The White River Watch may at one time have been an officially manned outpost, but it is now held by bandits -- so you will need to clear them out in the process of doing this quest.

Follow the marker down the road past the meadery and cross the bridge then climb the path up the hill and deal with the bandits.  There are some loot items below including a pickable chest with a nice item and some gold in it.  When you head inside the Watch above, you will encoutner Ulfr the Blind -- you will need to deal with him and a few other bandits before you continue deeper into the Watch, where you will find additional enemies to battle on your way to the exit to the White River Overwatch.

Outside you will encounter -- and kill -- the leader of the bandits Hajvarr Iron-Hand, who has some good loot items!  Inside the chest nearby is the sword you are looking for.  Take that and return to Amren to give it to him and be rewarded with some free lessons in one-handed battle!

Note that there is a lot of good lootables here, you may want to return to grab what seems prudent after you complete the quest.

 

Find 5 Ice Wrath Teeth for Marise

This Miscellaneous Quest is flagged form Marise Aravel in Riften.

It is a simple fetch quest -- either hunt down and kill Ice Wrath or buy the Teeth from Alchemists and deliver them to her for your reward.

 

Find Noster's Helmet inside Steepfall Burrow

This Miscellaneous Quest is flagged by speaking with the old man Noster Eagle-Eye  in Solitude.  He can be found on the street near the Inn and the clothing shop.  

The Burrow is a ways from town, but following the marker also reveals other locations so it is a worthwhile trip.  Actually the real challenge in this quest is getting there, since once you arrive all that remains is killing a few Frost Trolls and then emptying the chest that has the helmet in it.  Mischief Managed!

Now head back to give Noster his helmet and be rewarded with training in one level of Sneak!

 

Forbidden Legend

Reading the book teaches you about the Gauldur Legend and flags this quest.  You need to find the 3 parts of the amulet in Saarthal, Geirmund's Hall and Folgunthur -- but as you will be going to two of those places anyway for other quests and the story line you do not need to focus upon this quest at all until the end when you are clearing up unfinished quests!

You will have obtained the Fulgunthur and Saarhtal fragments as part of the story line quests or the Daedric Quests -- the Gerimund fragment you will have to actively seek out but that is not all that complicated!  Simply head to Ivarstead and then east to the dungeon and go in!

Fall down the shaft and then climb out of the water and go through the door, killing spiders and undead.  There are animal pillars inside -- set them to  Eagle, Whale, Snake, Whale -- and then  pick the lock on the door and go up.  When you reach the raised bridge do NOT use the lever on the right near the edge as it triggers a trap!  Instead turn around and look left, and use THAT lever to lower the bridge!

Battle your way across and through the trapped corridor doing your best to avoid the axes and then you will find the coffin of Sigdis Gauldursun in an alcove in the side of the flooded room ahead.  Notice the two raised areas in the water?  When you awaken his undead form he will go to those and alternate between them each time you hit him, shooting arrows at you.  Simply pursue and kill him, then loot his body for the last fragment!

The Reforged Amulet

Now that you have that it is time to assemble and repair the pieces -- so head out of the dungeon and head to Reachwater Rock where you will finally get a chance to use some of the Dragon Claw Keys you have been carrying around!

The Emerald Claw on the pedestal unlocks the first lock (Bear, Whale, Snake top to bottom), and then the Ivory Claw unlocks the next lock (Eagle, Eagle, Dragon from top to bottom).  Activate the pedestals on the table ahead three times to place the fragments and summon the spirits of the three brothers, then defeat them again to advance the quest.

WARNING: Do NOT jump up on the ledge behind the table to attack the two spirits there as you cannot kill them and, once on the ledge, you cannot get back down.

After you defeat the trio their father appears and repairs the amulet, you take it and the quest ends!  Good on ya!

 

Give the Frost Salts to Arcadia

This is a simple delivery quest -- take the Frost Salts that the Court Wizard Farengar gave to you and deliver them to the Alchemist Arcadia at her shop in the town square.

After you deliver them she will pay you as your reward.

 

Head to the Solitude Court

This Miscellaneous Quest is flagged from Corpulus Vinius, the Innkeeper at the Winking Skeever in Solitude when you ask if he has heard any rumors.

This is not so much a quest as it is directions to a location for you to discover -- the Blue Palace -- so simply head there and go inside to the throne room (Court) and this quest is completed.

 

In My Time of Need

On your way in or out of Whiterun you will run into Alik'r Warriors who are seeking a Redguard Woman who apparently has a bounty on her head...    That flags this Side Quest, and the woman in question is actually Saadia in the Bannered Mare.  If you go there and talk to her you get the option to warn her that the warriors are looking for her.  She asks you to follow her so she can talk to you privately -- do that and she pulls a dagger on you!  Instead of killing her just talk to her, and you will learn that she is a noble on the run with a death sentence.  She needs you to get rid of the warriors -- drive them away before they locate her.

The Noble Traitor Saadia

One of the warriors is in the dungeon at the palace (to get there you need to go through the palace and through a door below the throne room), so that is the logical starting point.  When you find him you have a choice to make -- you can rat her out, or you can help her.

The prisoner explains that he failed in his duties and is now an outcast -- but if you pay his fines he will give you the information you seek.  So pay the fines already!  Once you pay the fine he gives you the location -- so head to the cave and you will find that the reception there is a mixed one.

The bandits out front will try to kill you but the warriors will be willing to chat, and you learn that she is not the innocent in all this like she said.  She betrayed her city and Jarl.  You have a choice -- on the one hand you promised to help her, and killing these guys will do that.  On the other, she is a traitor.  It is your call.

As far as I am concerned a deal is a deal so I killed them.  Either way kill them and head back or agree to do their bidding and head back, then deliver her to the stables as they said.  Once you get your reward the quest is complete.

 

Investigate the Bard's College

This can be flagged from Mikael the Bard in the Whiterun Inn before doing the quest for Carlotta with him...  Or you can flag it from any bard you find in the lands through dialogue.

Travel to Solitude -- hopefully fast travel if you did the wagon rounds, otherwise catch a wagon there now!

Head through town to the College and go inside, where you will find Viarmo, the Headmaster.  Talk to him to enroll, and that conversation flags the Side Quest Tending the Flames.

 

Investigate the man wandering the streets near the Bards College

This Miscellaneous Quest is flagged from Corpulus Vinius, the Innkeeper at the Winking Skeever in Solitude when you ask if he has heard any rumors.

When you speak with him you flag the Side Quest The Mind of Madness.

 

Investigate Shroud Hearth Barrow

This Miscellaneous Quest is flagged from Wilhelm the Innkeeper in Ivarstead.

Enter the Barrow to find a ghost warning you to leave.  He is behind a closed gate -- to open it head to the opposite side of the champer and raise the left switch on the set on the right (when facing where the ghost was) and the left switch on the left.  Now head into the now open other room.  On the right as you enter is a door you can pick open -- to access a chest in a room with multiple boobytraps.  You will probably get hit, I am just saying...

Across from the pickable door is a gate that you can open by pulling a chain -- at the end of that path you encounter the ghost -- Wyndelius Gotharion -- and kill him (? how do you kill a ghost ?).  Well, end his existence anyway...

When you loot him you discover a potion called Philter of the Phantom that allows you to appear like a ghost -- so now you know that he was not a ghost at all!  There is another potion on the table and there is his journal -- which when you read it you will learn that he came here searching for "The Claw" which, if I had to bet, I would have said it was the Golden Claw we used earlier.  Obviously it was not however, as we end up finding the Sapphire Dragon Claw that is similar to to the Golden Claw -- I wonder what it unlocks?

The treasure hunter went a little nuts -- the journal proves that -- do grab the journal and take it back to Wilhelm to collect your reward!

 

Kill the Bandit Leader at the Halted Stream Camp

When you arrive at the camp you will find a few Bandits outside defending it, and after you take them out head inside the mine that is inside the camp to go after the Bandit Leader -- taking out the other Bandits who are trying to prevent you from getting to him.

A significant find you may want to remember is that there are several Iron Ore mining spots inside here!

Inside there is a Bandit Mage you need to quickly kill, and then be careful not to allow the Leader to get a good swing of his Battleaxe or you will end up quickly dead!  Keep your distance from him and use magic then dart in to hit him but do not let him hit you!

After you kill and loot the leader and the Bandit Mage, loot the table of the potions and ore, and the spell book Transmute Mineral Ore and.  There is so much stuff here you may need to fast travel to town and sell off your loot so you can come back and loot some more!

In addition to regular loot there are also Mammoth Tusks and Snouts, and you will find a pickaxe that you can use to mine the ore that is here -- if you have also chopped wood (there is a wood chopping block outside in the camp) and cooked food, you will unlock the Achievement "Hard Worker" (10 GS) for Chopping Wood, Mining Ore, and Cooking Food!

After you mine the ore you can use the spell from the book you got here to transmute some or all into Silver and Gold Ore if you like -- the Blacksmith back in Whiterun has a Smelter you can use to make ingots out of it!

Head to Dragonsreach and claim your reward from the Seneschal Proventus before you do anything else, and be happy for a job well done and well rewarded!

 

Kill the Bandit Leader at the Rift Watchtower

This is a straight-forward kill the bandit leader quest with nothing exceptional that stands out.  Simply head to the Watchtower and take out the bandits!

 

Kill the Bandit Leader located at Silent Moons Camp

The Jarl's Seneschal Proventus Avenicci awards this Miscellaneous Quest when you ask him for work. 

As you approach the Camp expect to be attacked -- your task is to clear it and that means taking out all of the bandits in the outer area, and then take out the leader and one or two bandits inside of the Camp.  The biggest threat are the outside bandits, several of which know magic and use it against you!

After taking out the leader, return to Dragonsreach and turn in the quest for your reward!

 

Kill the Dragon located at Eldersblood Peak

This Misc Quest can be flagged from Jonno the Innkeeper in Morthal (technically it can be flagged from any Innkeeper in any city as it is a random job) and is a simple track and kill quest.

 

Kill the Dragon located at Northwind Summit

Northwid Summit is far to the east of Ivarstead north of Shar's Stone -- when you arrive you basically have to jump up the rocks to the summit to trigger the spawn and, once the dragon attacks you need to head down the summit to a relatively flat area as otherwise it will NOT land for you to kill it!  So unless you can do air damage really well, head down to a flatter area.  Note that there are bears and wolves in the area so bring extra potions just in case you have to deal with them AND the dragon!

Once you kill it you are instructed to collect the bounty from Anuriel -- who can be found in Riften which is not that far away.  Though if you did the wagon circuit to flag all of the cities and towns you should be able to fast travel directly there!

When you arrive in town you will find her in the Keep, and she happily pays you the 500 gold bounty.

 

Kill the Giant located at the Bleakwind Basin

In my experience Giants are tough - but this one seems to be a weaker type because as long as you have your companion with you to draw his wrath you should be able to take him down with very little trouble.  Once you have, simply turn the quest in by reporting to Prventis at Dragonsreach to collect your rward -- 100 gold.

 

Kill the Leader at the Pinemoon Cave

This Miscellaneous Quest is flagged by speaking with the Court Wizard  Sybille Stentor at the Blue Palace in Solitude.  It is a simple kill mission, though you probably have not actually been to this cave at is a bit out of the way, so you will have to hoof it...

As you enter you will encounter some wolves -- easy kills -- and then deeper into the cave the Master Vampire and his Vampire Minions -- some of which are mages so go easy here, be sure you are ready to heal, and you should have little trouble with them!   Be sure to empty the chest on the alter before you leave.

When you return to Sybille she the insufferable wench, she  rewards us with a Gold Diamond Ring and a point of Destruction Magic for our troubles.

 

Laid to Rest

First, fair warning, this is going to be challenging...

This Side Quest can be flagged from Jonno the Innkeeper in Morthal, and involves looking into the deaths of the family of Hrogger -- a resident of the town who is suspected of setting the fire that burned his house and killed his family.  Jonno mentions that he moved in with his lover only days after the fire, which is why everyone is suspicious...

Our first task is to speak with the Jarl -- who can be found in her home which is not a palace by any stretch of the imagination!  Go through the conversation options and then learn her take on the situation...  The Jarl charges you with the investigation, and you are now Inspector Detector!

At the house speak with the ghost of Hroggor's daughter and you will learn what she saw -- but she wants you to play hide and seek with her first, then she will tell you all.  You agree but you also learn that something is not quite right here, as she speaks of the "Other One" but refuses to reveal who -- or what -- they are!

You have to wait until nighttime to play the game with her.  After dark you will find her in her grave up the path behind the house, and you will find the Other -- Laelette the Vampire!  It turns out that a Vampire tried to make the little girl a creature of the night, and she tells you to speak to Thonnir, one of the villagers.

From him you learn that his wife is missing -- he thinks dead -- and fears secretly that his wife was turned into a vampire as well!  You need to investigate Alvo's House to learn the truth -- which you find in her cellar!

Read the journal before you take it -- it fills in all of the details and adds to the story.  Take the journal with you when you leave and show it to the Jarl to reveal all and solve the mystery of the fire, the deaths, and a potential Vampire Invasion!

Before you can be rewarded however you need to perform one more task - slay the Master Vampire to end the threat!  The Jarl organizes the town to assist you so lead them to the Lair and head inside, where you will find the Vampires.  Save first, right?

As you make your way through the caverns you will encounter relatively weak Vampires and kill them, but save before you enter the final chamber as there are several stronger enemy there, and you may be glad you did...  Because they do not follow Vampire Lore in this game and taking out the Master does not cause the minions to die.

Oh, by the way, the army of townsfolk?  They chicken out.

The biggest problem that I had with this quest was keeping my companion alive -- I had to reload a dozen times before I was able to do it without Lydia doing something stupid and getting herself killed.  Gah!

After you kill the Master Vampire and his minions you will see the little girl on the way out of the Lair -- she lets you know she is now at rest, which is a good thing.  What a sad quest...  Anyway head back to the Jarl and report your success!  You get 1000 gold for your troubles -- not bad!  She offers you the title of Thane if you are willing to help her people -- flagging the Miscellaneous Quest Assist the people of Hjaalmarch (a three-parter).  Well done!

 

Lights Out!

This Side Quest is flagged by speaking with Jaree-Ra in Solitude, and is started by speaking with the Innkeeper there about rumors to learn that Jaree-Ra may be hiring.

It develops that Jaree-Ra is a thief and ship-breaker, and he wants you to put out the fire in the lighthouse to cause a ship that is arriving to end up on the rocks, where he can loot it.  For doing this, he explains, you will be properly rewarded.

 

Listen to Brynjolf's scheme

When you arrive in Riften you will find Brynjolf in the market -- he wants you to steal the silver ring from the strongbox nearby when he causes a distraction, and then place it in Brand-Shei's pocket without him noticing.  This flags the Side Quest A Chance Arrangement. 

 

Locate Grimsever

This Miscellaneous Quest is flagged from Mjoll the Lioness in the pub in Riften.  She lost her favorite sword long ago and wants you to find it.  It is located in the Mzinchofelt which is a large fortification and underground Dwarven labyrinth up to the northwest.

You have to battle your way through several groups of bandits both outside and inside, then some Dwarven mechs, and finally work out the puzzle of the switches to gain access to the valve that opens all of the gates inside!

Then you use the lever behind the door that they give access to to enter the Mineshaft, where you will then face a group of Falmer until you eventually reach the very heart of the facility -- the Gatehouse -- where you do battle with the biggest Dwarven Mech ever!

The sword is on a table where you defeat the huge mech -- so grab it and return to deliver it to Mjoll -- and then come back and loot the heck out of this place!

 

The Man Who Cried Wolf

The Summoning Ritual

This Side Quest is flagged after speaking with Falk Firebeard in the Court at the Blue Palace in Solitude.  You meet him in the process of delivering a bottle of Rum for the Innkeeper, and get the chat option to flag this Side Quest.

It is a straight-forward clearing quest -- you encounter some undead outside and, when you go inside you find that the cave has more of the same plus Necromancers inside.  Once you drop down the hole at the back of the cave and zone into the next area you find a pretty amazing scene -- the Necromancers have a bloody fortress underground here and they are doing something major at its peak.  Time to slay!

After you take out the head Necromancer on top of the left tower, use the lever to lower the bridge and exit through the middle of the right tower, then into the cave and out to Skyrim.  Now return to the Blue Palace and talk to Falk to report what the Summoners were doing there -- and our success is stopping them from completing the rite.  That wraps up this quest.

 

Marriage in Skyrim

This is not really a Miscellaneous Quest since it does not appear in that list but it is included here so that you know how marriage works in the game...  Maramal the Monk is in the Inn in Riften and if you talk to him you can obtain the special necklace that you need -- the Amulet of Mara -- in order to attract a mate and begin the process of getting married.

Pay him 200 gold for the Amulet of Mara and, when you find someone you want to marry wear it and if they are interested you can begin chat about it.

When you find the person you want to marry simply wear the Amulet and then talk to them -- they will ask if you are interested you say yes, they are interested, so you set a date.  All you need to do then is return to Riften and talk to the Brother and the ceremony will commence the next morning. 

 

Materials for the Ringmaker

This Miscellaneous Quest is flagged from Madesi in Riften Market.  He needs a short list of supplies for this simple fetch quest.

Bring him a Gold Ore, 2 Flawless Sapphires, and a Mammoth Tusk and collect your reward!

 

Missing in Action

This Side Quest is flagged by talking to Fralia Grey-Mane, a merchant at the stalls in Whiterun.  After talking to her and flagging the quest she asks you to follow her home where she can tell you the entire story about her missing son.  After you follow her to her house, her son freaks out and draws his weapon -- ignore that. 

Talk to Fralia and learn what she has to tell you, and then talk to her son Avulstein Gray-Mane to learn the rest of what they think the story is...  The conversation with him progresses the quest to the next stage,

 

Obtain a Mark of Dibella

You flag this Miscellaneous Quest from Svana Far-Shield at the Bunkhouse in Riften --  she wants to embarrass her tyrant of a boss by having you obtain the Marks from Indoryn, Hofgrir, and Bolli.

Simply follow the markers to each and talk to them, use persuade to convince them to give it to you, and then return to confront Haelga -- which gives you leverage over her.  Speak to Svana to complete the quest and receive your reward.

 

Participate in a Drinking Contest with Sam Guenvere

You will find Sam in Whiterun at the Bannered Mare Inn -- when you talk to him and agree to his contest he stands and you take turns pounding down the brew!  After three glasses of his special brew you find yourself waking up in a strange place -- triggering the Side-Quest A Night to Remember.

Head over to that Quest now to continue!

 

Red Eagle's Sword

It's finally time -- this should be high enough level (with a handful of potions of course) to get to the sword and complete its quest!

Make sure that you have gone into the Miscellaneous Quests and flagged the one to find Red Eagle's Sword, then flag Miscellaneous and make sure none of the others are flagged so that you don't have multiple pointers on the compass.

With the quest set as your active one to follow the pointer.  When you get outside check your map and you will see that we have a long and dangerous journey ahead of us!  Hopefully you stocked up on everything you will need -- potions, that sort of thing -- right?  It would also be an idea to make a save in case you run into trouble so you do not have to go back and re-flag the quest and all that.

 

Battle with Red Eagle

 

The most direct route means heading overland and not by road, but you will get to discover some new locations, including Fort Greymoor and Rorikstead.  As you work your way closer to the destination be prepared to deal with Forsworn bandits -- there will be resistance!

As you work your way up the stairs you will face a committed band of defenders and, once you reach the top of the Sundered Towers there will be one leader that is marked -- he is who has the sword!  Take him out and loot his body to recover the sword and trigger the second part of the quest!

-- Unlock the Secret of Red Eagle's Tomb --

Before you begin this stage make sure that you have a good weapon with you to use as you cannot use Red Eagle's Blade for this!

Now it is time to head for Rebel's Cairn and the next stage in this quest -- head inside and you will find a slotted stone inside into which you must stick the sword to begin unlocking its secrets (and upgrading it) so do that, and then continue into the cave.

Inserting the sword opens the way ahead, and when you approach the crypt inside a very powerful undead warrior -- Red Eagle himself -- will emerge with some summoned friends!  You need to NOT attack him melee, as he will disarm you.  You need to make use of your magic to really weaken him and then you can attack directly.

 

Retrieve Amulet of Talos off of Raggvir

This quest is flagged from Greta -- the sister of Raggvir who was hung when you first entered Solitude -- in the process of completing the quest to chat with her that was given by her daughter.  You hoped to convince her to return to Temple, but before she feels she can do that, she needs you to retrieve the amulet from her dead brother.

You need to go to the graveyard in town and enter the Catacombs, where you will find the Amulet of Talos -- actually the second we have found in the game -- but you have to steal it to take it and remember, no good deed goes unpunished!  Anyway, take the Amulet back to Greta and you learn that she will now start going to Temple again.  Well done!

 

Speak to Elisif with Taarie's outfit on

This Miscellaneous Quest is flagged by speaking with Taarie, the owner of the Radiant Raiment Shop in Solitude.  When you go through her chat options you will learn that she would pay to have you appear in the Blue Court wearing one of her outfits if you would just speak to the noble Elisif and ask for her opinion of the outfit...

Elisif is of course the new Jarl -- and when you speak with her she is favorably impressed with the outfit and asks you to pass on her compliments and plan to buy some dresses.  Success!

Now head back to the shop to get your reward!

 

Speak to Greta about going to the Temple of the Divines

You will find the little girl Svari playing with a mate on the streets of Solitude -- it was her uncle who was being executed when we first entered the town, and you learn from her through chat that the event has had profound impact upon her parents.  She wants her mother to attend the Temple -- and you to convince her to do so.

When you talk to her you learn that the issue is not as cut and dry as the daughter thought -- she needs you to retrieve an amulet from her brother's body...  Flagging that quest completes this one.

 

Speak to Sapphire about Shadr's Debt

This Miscellaneous Quest is flagged from Shadr in Riften.  He has run into trouble with his horse business and needs to get out from under the debt that is crushing him -- you offer to help.

When you speak to her you learn she is a member of the Guild!  Threaten to talk to the boss about her and she gives in immediately, agreeing to cancel the debt.  Score!

 

Speak with the Leader of the Companions

Outside of Whiterun on the Pelagia Farm when you first arrive you can encounter a group of the Companions slaying a Giant.  Talk to them to flag this quest.

The Leader is located in Jorrvaskr Building which is in the upper east section of Whiterun (turn east at the circle that leads to Dragonsreach).  Enter the building and seek out the Leader, Kodlak Whitemane, who is sitting at a table downstairs in the building.

You can ask him a few questions first, then ask to join the Circle -- which triggers an argument between the Whitemane and his companion.  Whitemane asks you how you are in battle - a little humility in your answer will not be far off base here -- and should trigger the next phase of this quest called "Take Up Arms" as a result. 

Follow Vilkis outside and train with him -- but that only amounts to taking a few swings at him before he tells you to have his sword sharpened and gives it to you.  Sheesh!  Grunt work already?!

Take the sword to Eorlund Gray-Mane at the top of the path -- you can ask him a question that branches into other questions, and when you try to leave he asks you to do him a favor and deliver his shield.  Hey, you are being tested, so cheerfully agree to do it, and then go do it!

Aela sends you to follow Farkas, who will show you to your quarters, completing the quest!  You will now unlock the Achievement "Take Up Arms" (10 GS) for joining the Companions.  Farkas will mention that there is work to be done -- ask what and accept the job to flag the first quest in the Companions Faction, Trouble in Skyrim.

See the Companions Faction Quest Section for the rest of their quests.

Strongest Arm

You will find Hofgrir Horse-Crusher in the Riften Stables.  Talk to him and ask about how he feels living outside of the walls, which will lead you to a bet with him and a brawl.  Make sure you leave your companion OUTSIDE because if you do not and you start to brawl with him, your companion will kill him, the guards will come, and everyone has a bad day!

After you beat him until he drops to his knees you win.  Good on ya!

 

Talk to Aventus Aretino

You will find the young boy Aventus in his home trying to cast the Black Sacrament as he is seeking an Assassin from the Dark Brotherhood?!

He wants you to accept a contract -- he was orphaned you see, and he was placed in an orphanage -- and he wants you to kill the woman running the orphanage, Grelad the Kind.  Concluding the conversation results in flagging the Side Quest Innocence Lost, the first quest in the Dark Brotherhood Questline.

 

Talk to Irnskar about Octieve

This Miscellaneous Quest is flagged from Octieve San, a Mendicant wandering the streets of Solitude.  When you talk to him he tells you of his woes.

Irnskar Iron Hand is a bit of a hardass -- you basically have three options here, either pay the debt, persuade him, or intimidate him.  Now your Speech should be capped, so persuade sounds like a good option and what do you know!  It works!

Head back to Octieve to tell him the good news.

 

Talk to Jaree-Ra about possible employment

This Miscellaneous Quest is flagged from Corpulus Vinius, the Innkeeper at the Winking Skeever in Solitude when you ask if he has heard any rumors.

Simply seek out Jaree-Ra and talk to him.

 

Talk to Lod

This Miscellaneous Quest takes you to Falkreach to speak with the Blacksmith there, Lod.  This is actually an important quest so you should do it -- and speaking to him reveals that he needs you to capture the stray dog that is outside of town. 

Easy enough, right?  But when you find the dog it talks!  It not only talks, it actually is the NPC you need to talk to in order to flag the Side Quest A Daedra's Best Friend!

 

Talk to Mikael about Carlotta

This quest is flagged by speaking to Carlotta Valentia in the Inn in Whiterun.  Mikael the Bard has been trash talking her with his mates and you volunteer to deal with the matter.

Mikael is the bard playing in the same Inn that you meet Carlotta.  When you talk to him you have several choices -- you can try bribing if you like, but really Persuading him is better and it gives more XP.  Once you have persuaded him to leave her alone, return to Carlotta to give her the good news and collect your reward.

 

Tending the Flames

 

King Olaf's Verse

 

This Side Quest is flagged from Headmaster Viarmo at the Bard's College in Solitude as you complete the Miscellaneous Quest Investigate the Bard's College.

The basic facts are that the recent death of the King has caused the Queen to withdraw permission for the College to hold its annual festival, and the Headmaster thinks if you recover the long-lost copy of King Olaf's Verse and he can read it to the Queen that she will change her mind!

You do not need to actively pursue this quest because you will locate the verse as part of the process of completing the Words of Power in the main guide.   When you have obtained the Book during the Words of Power Section you can then deliver it to the Headmaster, who will then ask you to help him fill in the missing sections.  Once you do that, you go with him to the Jarl, he reads it, and the festival is back on!

Now you need to speak with Jorn letting him know that it is back on -- he tells you to return after dark so that you can get the festival started -- so wait till dark and talk to him again and then gather outside to watch the ceremony.  Considering that the attendees are mostly the bards this was something of a disappointment...  Viarmo gives you credit, and then lights the king up, and you are now a full member of the college!  Good on ya!

 

Use the Arcane Enchanter

When you talk to the Whiterun Court Wizard Farengar Secret-Fire and ask about Enchanting  you will flag this quest -- simply find a weapon that has a magical property that you do not mind destroying and take it with you back to the Wizard's chamber in the palace.

Use the Arcane Enchanter that is behind his desk and you will have the option of learning the enchantment that is on the weapon -- be aware that doing so will destroy the weapon!  Obviously you should not do this to any of the good weapons in the game -- but finding relatively worthless enchated weapons will be easy enough, in fact you will find one or two when you do the Dragontablet Quest, so wait until after that to complete this quest by learning the enchantment from one of the weapons you obtained on that quest. 

Be sure to not accidentally use it on the ax that the Jarl gives you or one of the more valuable weapons like Red Eagles Sword, as that really would suck...

 

Visit the College of Winterhold

This quest can be flagged by asking any NPC who has the hook "Where can I learn more about Magic?" as a conversation option.

When you arrive in Winterhold head to the College where you will encounter Feralda blocking your way over the bridge.  Speak with her and answer her question honestly -- in other words do not admit to selfish motives... 

This starts the Mage Guild Questline.

 

Visit the Museum in Dawnstar

At some point in your adventures a Courier will show up and hand you an invitation to the opening of a new museum in the town of Dawnstar.  Thank him for flagging this quest for you!

When you arrive in town you will find Silus Vesuius, the Museum curator and founder, standing in front to greet you!  Speaking to him flags the Side Quest Pieces of the Past. 

Follow him inside and check out the "museum" and then speak with him -- if you played the previous game in the series (Oblivion) you will recognize the name of this organization -- they were the bloody enemy! 

 

Visit the Shrine of Azura

Speak to Hulda the Whiterun Innkeeper and ask her about rumors to flag this quest.   The Shrine is in the far north near Winterhold, and getting there can be a bit of a trial...

The Shrine is on top of a mountain and can be a bit tricky to reach -- look for the valley with the arch over it and head through there, following the mountain around until you reach the Sightless Pit, then head up the path from there and you will have an easy time of it.

At the top when you reach the Shrine you will encounter Aranea Ienith, who claims that the Gods predicted your coming -- you are the Chosen One!  That's right, Azura has picked you to be Her Champion. 

After you agree to this, you flag the Side Quest The Black Star.

 

The White Phial

When you enter the Alchemist Shop in Windhelm you are not able to buy anything at first -- instead when you talk to Nurelion he asks you to help him in locating and retrieving the White Phial from the Forsaken Cave.  He explains that he is in the last stages of a fatal illness but that he has tracked down a legendary artifact that may be able to save him -- The White Phial.

This is a straight forward retrieval quest -- just head to the cave fight your way in, grab the Phial and return to him.  When you do return the phial to Nurelion it turns out to be cracked -- we did not do that it was like that when we found it -- and he is upset.  He pays us 5 gold pieces (whaaaat?!) and tells us to leave.  On the way out talk to his assistant, Quintus Navale, for your actual reward.

 

Repairing the Phial

A few days after you complete the Side Quest "A White Phial" you are approached by a messenger with a Letter from Quintus Navale.  Reading the letter flags this Side Quest, and you need to head back to Windhelm to speak with him to learn that there may be a way to repair the Phial.  He needs you to bring him some quest items -- Unmelting Snow, Mammoth Tusk Powder and one Forsworn Briar Heart. 

The other two items require you to get them from specific locations.

Unmelting Snow can be found on the Throat of The World, and the Mammoth Tusk Powder is in a large vat beside the giants at Stonehill Bluff -- so after you speak with him head there to grab them. 

WARNING: If you have been dealing with the Forsworn you may already have a Briarheart in which case the guides online will tell you that you cannot complete the quest because it is now bugged.  It is supposed to be fixed in a future update.  This is NOT true. 

It is true that you cannot remove the Briarhearts by dropping or selling them, BUT there is a forge in the Midden at the Mage's College (you access it via a trap door in the courtyard outside) that you CAN place the Briarhearts in.  So if you have some in your inventory and cannot complete the quest, head to the Midden and put them in the offering box of the forge and THEN you can complete the quest!

If you do not have a Briarheart, you get that from the body of a dead Forsworn so go make some dead!

After he repairs the Phial he goes upstairs to show it to Nurelion, who then promptly dies.  Whhaattt?!

Your reward is the Phial itself, however Quintus Navale is NOT an expert or a master at the craft, and as a result, he is not skilled enough to recalibrate the phial, so it will only be able to regenerate one kind of liquid.  You have to decide which:

-- Healing. ( 100 health)
-- Magic. ( 20 magicka for 300 seconds)
-- Magic Resist. (20% magic resist for 60 seconds)
-- One-Handed. ( 50% to one handed damage for 60 seconds)
-- Sneak. (20% harder to detect for 60 seconds)
-- Stamina. ( 20 stamina for 300 seconds)

Once you make the choice this remains in your inventory.  You can use it, and then it will refill after a day on its own.  Well done!  That is another Side-Quest done!