Soul Cairn
Map
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Sublocations	Reaper's Lair Boneyard
Characters	Valerica Morven Stroud Jiub Durnehviir Souls
Enemies	Bonemen Wrathmen Mistmen Boneyard Keepers Reaper

Soul Cairn is a location found in The Elder Scrolls V: Dawnguard.

The Soul Cairn is a plane of Oblivion inhabited by trapped souls and undead. It is accessed via a portal in Castle Volkihar during the quest Chasing Echoes.

Contents 1 Background 2 Geography 2.1 Soul Fissures 2.2 Crystalline Structures 2.3 Lightning Attractor 3 Sub-locations 3.1 Reaper's Lair 3.2 Boneyard 4 Quests 4.1 Chasing Echoes 4.2 Impatience of a Saint 4.3 Find Arvak's Skull 4.4 Soul Husk hunt 5 Trivia 6 Appearances 7 Gallery 8 References

Background

When a soul is trapped in a soul gem and the energy used to power an enchantment, the remnants are sent to the Soul Cairn. It is a place devoid of life - the only beings that exist there are souls, undead and the rulers of the realm, the Ideal Masters^[1].

The Ideal Masters are the mystic entities that lord over the Soul Cairn, controlling every aspect of its being. It's believed the only reason the Soul Cairn exists is for the Ideal Masters to collect souls and feed on them^[2]; some theories even suggest they use the souls as a form of currency to an even higher power^[1].

The Soul Cairn is also home to powerful undead beings, which are highly sought after by necromancers. Souls are sent to the Soul Cairn by necromancers who wish to summon these undead, but in order to do so they must travel to the realm in person to finalize the deal with the Ideal Masters. They are often tricked and many become trapped as harvested souls^[1].

Geography

The landscape is barren and dry with only dead trees and bushes scattered throughout the realm, as well as plant-like growths known as Soul Husks.

The sky is permenantly bleak and cloudy and occasionally bolts of lightning strike down.

Several buildings and altars can be found at seemingly random points across the land, alongside mysterious upright stones and circular crystalline structures. One unique feature found in only the tallest spires are the constantly shifting towers.

The realm itself is partitioned by an enormous fortified wall that seperates the landscape for no discernible reason.

Soul Fissures

There are luminescent cracks in the ground throughout the Cairn. Interacting with one will fill the largest empty soul gem on hand.

Crystalline Structures

Scattered across the Cairn are a number of floating purple crystals that resemble giant soul gems. Approaching these will drain the health of any living being that gets too close. Eating a Soul Husk, however, will counter the drain for a short time.

Lightning Attractor

There are four Lightning Attractor located in the Soul Cairn. Activate these by using Grand Soul Gems or Greater Soul Gems. Lightning will strike the rod, and Mistmen, Bonemen, and Wrathmen will appear and the soul gem will be replaced by a Black Soul Gem. After being struck, the rod will slide into the orifice and the Lightning Attractor cannot be activated a second time.

• One is located by one of the Keepers, to the left of where the Portal is.

• Another is located near Arvak's Skull by the glowing castle.

Sub-locations

Reaper's Lair

It is located in the northern south-east edge of the Soul Cairn, past the stone wall. Inside lies the Reaper Shard Receptacle, which is activating by placing three reaper gem fragments in the receptacle. These fragments are located in chests beneath three of the giant floating soul gems which drain health. Lightning frequently strikes the center of the room. Putting three shards in the receptacle summons The Reaper.

Boneyard

Accessed after killing the three Keepers. Valerica is trapped here along with one of the three Elder Scrolls. Shortly after the Dragonborn enters the Boneyard, Durnehviir will attack.

Quests

Chasing Echoes

Serana's mother Valerica is found here. She offers an Elder Scroll to the Dragonborn if the Boneyard Keepers located at the tallest spires in the Soul Cairn are defeated. She warns that a fearsome Dragon named Durnehviir may take notice of the Boneyard Keepers' demise. Once all of the Boneyard Keepers have been killed, the wall that blocks access to the castle disappears. Once the Boneyard is entered, Durnehviir will appear and attempt to kill the Dragonborn. Once he is defeated, speak with Valerica who will lead the player to the Elder Scroll. As soon as the Boneyard is exited Durnehviir appears. After conversing with him, he teaches the Dragonborn the a shout to call him from the Soul Cairn.

Impatience of a Saint

The Dragonborn can interact with the spiritual essence of Jiub and accept a quest to find the second volume of his autobiography. There are ten pages in total, and they are scattered across the barren landscape of Soul Cairn.

Find Arvak's Skull

The Dragonborn can also complete a side quest to free an undead skeletal horse named Arvak. This mount can then be summoned at will in either Nirn or the Soul Cairn. Arvak's Skull can be found under a glowing pavilion near the big castle. Returning the Skull to the owner will reward the Dragonborn with the Summon Arvak spell.

Soul Husk hunt

There is a soul, named Morven Stroud, directly east of the passage in the wall. Speak to him and he will ask for 25 soul husks. Bringing him these items gets the choice between a few items to trade for the 25 husks. This quest is repeatable and some of the items he has are enchanted.

A glowing pit portal to the right of Morven Stroud will teleport one to the top of a building. Look to the building with the obelisks with glowing orbs, there is a spot to jump down to to get a hidden chest.

Trivia

• While in Soul Cairn, a soul might say, "Death is but a door and time is but a window; I'll be back", which is a reference to Vigo the Carpathian from Ghostbusters II.
• One cannot enter the Soul Cairn without being a vampire or by being partially soul trapped.
• One can use Whirlwind Sprint to reach the top of the wall that bisects the Soul Cairn. From there, one may jump down outside the purple barrier. There is no loot there and no way back, however.
• A soul may talk about an Imperial Battlemage, which is a reference to Battlespire.

Appearances

• An Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire (First appearance)
• The Elder Scrolls V: Dawnguard

Gallery

References

Start a Discussion Discussions about Soul Cairn (Dawnguard)

• 

  Problems in the soul cairn

  2 messages
  • 
    A Wikia contributor
    Okay, so here I am in the soul cairn, searching all over to find these pages to St Juib's Opus, and there is one missing. I double check where... 2013-05-14T00:12:19Z
  • 
    AzuraKnight
    Corpse's are supposed to disappear after a while but i find the ash type very often don't and they can't be moved like normal bodys, you might... 2013-05-14T08:46:26Z
• 

  can you enter soul chain if you are in the dawnguard ?

  2 messages
  • 
    A Wikia contributor
    just wondering  2013-04-20T13:50:39Z
  • 
    ODragono
    yes 2013-04-20T14:06:14Z

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