The Volkihar Dungeons is a location in The Elder Scrolls V: Dawnguard. They are distinctly separate from the living quarters of the castle and is host to several hostile occupants. The Volkihar Dungeons include Volkihar Undercroft, Volkihar East Tower, Volkihar North Tower, and Volkihar Ruins.
Sublocations[]
Volkihar Undercroft[]
The undercroft was originally an old escape tunnel out of the castle. It contains the old water cistern in which Serana comments it had an unpleasant odor back then. It is also used as a dump for disposing unwanted human corpses through the trapdoor from the thrall cells above. When entering the Undercroft, there are a few coins on the ground alongside clam meat. There are numerous death hounds and an encounter with a Feral Vampire. A giant frostbite spider guards the lever used to lower the drawbridge to the courtyard. The undercroft leads to the Volkihar Ruins.
Volkihar Courtyard[]
Moondial
When the courtyard is first entered, it is in a neglected state with a few old graves and headstones. According to Serana, Harkon hated the courtyard as it was "too peaceful." Scattered around are various fungi and deathbell plants.
There are three parts that need to be collected to operate the giant moondial: the Crescent Moon Crest, the Full Moon Crest, and the Half Moon Crest. After completion of the Kindred Judgment on the side of the vampires, the option to clear the pathway to the courtyard becomes available. In addition, Valerica can be convinced to return to the castle, where she will replant many of the plants in the courtyard.
Volkihar East Tower[]
A small tower with a few skeletons inside. Single coins and jewels are scattered around the floor.
Volkihar North Tower[]
Another small tower with a few Skeletons inside, and occasionally a gargoyle. This tower also features a crushed humanoid skeleton, with a deer head, carrying a silver necklace and some gold bars. There are two chests located here, one next to the gargoyle and the other above the stairs.
Volkihar Ruins[]
The ruins are nearly as big as the keep itself. It contains dining room tables, bedrooms, and a spacious chapel with a broken statue of Mara. The size of the ruins indicate that the castle had larger numbers but they fell short over a period of time, leaving the ruins abandoned. There are plenty of enemies in this location, mostly skeletons, death hounds, and Gargoyle Brutes. They can be ruthless and will hunt in packs; sometimes even pretending to be stone statues. A Vampire Royal Armor and a pair of Vampire Boots are on a shelf next to a bookcase near the end of the dungeon.
Valerica's Study[]
The portal to Soul Cairn.
This location contains the Soul Cairn portal as well as a plethora of ingredients and other useful items. The room itself is very large, adorning two floors. The first floor contains an area with many bookshelves, almost as a small library.
One notable item found next to the table of bones is the book, Valerica's Journal. Near this alcove, is an alchemy lab with finely ground bone meal on it.
There is a door leading to the Castle Volkihar Balcony, which can be used to fast travel to and from the study.
Bugs[]
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This section contains bugs related to Volkihar Dungeons. Before adding a bug to this list, consider the following:
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- The Dragonborn may occasionally fall through the floor in Volkihar North Tower.
- PC When re-entering the Volkihar Undercroft the bridges may be back up and the enemies respawn; loading previous save files will not help. Toggling collision with the command
tclis a workaround to enter the dungeons.- Sometimes the locks, bridges, and traps will be reset, but quest-related enemies, such as the gargoyles and the exiled vampire, will not reappear; in this case, triggered visual effects, such as the crumbling stone effect produced by gargoyle stands, will still occur when traversing the Undercroft and further areas, but the opposition to the Dragonborn's advance will be limited to a few skeevers, death hounds, and skeletons.
- When entering Volikhar Dungeons, Serana may follow the Dragonborn in, even if she is not an active follower.
- Serana may automatically become an active follower when entering the Volkihar Courtyard.
- PC When walking over the bridge into the main part of the castle, the Dragonborn may fall into the ground.
- Under the middle bookshelf on the top floor of the study, a hole in the map is visible.
Gallery[]
