Cracked Tusk Keep

Template:SkyrimForts

Location

The fort is located within Falkreath Hold, west of Falkreath City along the main road.

Description

Cracked Tusk Keep is named after the Orcs who now reside there. It was an abandoned fort that has now become an Orc Stronghold, and is now guarded by hostile Orcs that will attack on sight. The keep is divided into three sections: Cracked Tusk Keep (Outer), Cracked Tusk Keep (Inner), and Cracked Tusk Keep Vault. The keep may be entered through two doors or a trap door on top of one tower.

Cracked Tusk Keep (Outer)

Typical of most abandoned forts in Skyrim, the outer walls and towers are crumbling and broken in spots and the entire fort is in a general state of disrepair. The courtyard has a blacksmith's shop with a working forge, grindstone and workbench. What sets this fort apart is the additional Orcish construction in the outer yard. In the courtyard the orcs have built a smokehouse and have a tanning rack nearby.

Cracked Tusk Keep (Inner)

The three-level inner keep may be accessed through either of two doors — one on the main level, one on the lower level with an adept lock, and a trap door in the roof of the tower. There are several rooms in this section, with the one on the lower level containing an Alchemy Lab. The trapdoor from the tower leads into the room adjacent to Ghunzul's bedroom on the upper level. The main level has 6 usable bed rolls, should the player wish to sleep after clearing the keep of enemies.

After slaying Ghunzul, collect the Cracked Tusk Vault Key from the end table and read the book on the round table. The key will be useful for opening the locked cage on the lower level.

Cracked Tusk Vault

The vault may be accessed on the lower level. Without the key to the cage, the player will need to pick the expert lock to the cage and then activate the button inside the cage.

The vault is a damp, stone corridor with a small, locked cell on each side and a larger cell at the end that contains traps for the unwary. The usual assortment of leveled treasure — potions, armor, and weapons — is located in various locations inside the vault, beyond which is a booby-trapped pedestal with the Shards of Mehrunes' Razor resting on it.

Note: Be mindful of all the traps in the lower vault. Keep an eye on the ground!

The first one is encountered after the two levers required to open the large cell door are pulled prior to stepping inside the cell. The player should advance very slowly while crossing the threshold to avoid a volley of poison arrows. The rest of the traps are tripwires. One is located to the left of the first left-hand pillar. Activate this trip-wire before advancing, it releases spiked gates. Two others are located between the right and left pillars and can be seen quite easily. Again, activate the trip-wire before advancing, and the poison arrows will cause no harm. Once past the traps, pick up the shards — carefully. The pedestal uses an "Indiana Jones" style scale to measure the weight of the object on it. Once you remove the shards, the pedestal will rise and a hail of poison arrows will release from above. Stand directly in front but as far away from the pedestal as possible while still being able to pick them up to avoid the poison arrows.

Quests

Pieces of the Past

The Shards of Mehrunes' Razor are found here.

Notable Loot

Shards of Mehrunes' Razor - Quest Item
Assorted leveled loot from bandits, Orcs, and chests
Lost Legends - in a vault cell on the right inside the Cracked Tusk Vaults (leads to quest Forbidden Legend).
Light Armor Forging (Smithing) - on a table by the smithing forge.
Rislav the Righteous (Light Armor) - in a vault cell on the left inside the Cracked Tusk Vaults.
Apprentice level locked chest on the very top of the keep, use the ladder roof access and go around to the damaged side to get to it.
Master level locked chest among the ruins of one of the corner structures of the castle. Standing on top of the keep, it is the circular structure to the north, behind the smithing area.