It is given by Falk Firebeard, Steward to Jarl Elisif at Solitude. A representative from Dragon Bridge nervously and impatiently pleaded to the court in Solitude for help investigating Wolfskull Cave due to rumors of disappearances and strange lights, but so far has only received reinforced guard patrols.
Objectives
- Speak to Falk Firebeard in Solitude
- Clear out Wolfskull Cave, killing the necromancers conducting the binding ritual
- Return to Falk to get the reward.
Walkthrough
The Summoning Spell
After entering the cave, the path starts north, gradually turns to the right, then sharply left (northwest). After a draugr is dispatched, the path turns slightly right (north). Two necromancers are sitting in front of a cook fire to the left (northwest), and wooden door opens to the north.
Down the steps beyond the door is a room with several enemies, including a frost atronach. In the center of the room is a sinkhole. After jumping down the sinkhole, the passage leads north-northwest to Wolfskull Ruins.
To the north is another overlook, where necromancers can be heard chanting a summoning spell for the long-dead Potema Septim, the "Wolf Queen." The ghostly form of Potema is at the top of a tower.
Another passage to the left (west) leads to the bottom. Alternatively, it is possible to jump down carefully to the right from the overlook (if the Dragonborn turns left they will fall and be teleported to the bottom of the sinkhole).
At the bottom of the steps are several enemies, then a curved set of steps leads up to the east, curving eventually to the west. At the top is a satchel against the right-hand wall, and an opening leads east. Another set of steps leads up to the northeast. At the first landing are numerous leveled draugr. The next set of steps leads to a second landing where the path turns left (northwest). Another set of steps leads up to the northwest, then west. At the top of those steps is a walkway with another draugr.
The walkway leads generally east, then to a final curved set of steps up to the top of the tower where the necromantic ritual to bind Potema is happening. The necromancers who are conducting the ceremony must be killed, including the ritual master. A lever to the left of a drawbridge drops it, creating a path southeast to the next tower. There is a chest against the southeast wall of the second tower top, and a set of stairs leading down. At the bottom, a path leads southeast to a door back to Wolfskull Cave. Beyond the door, it is possible to jump down next to the cart in the initial small cavern, then exit the cave.
Returning to Falk allows him to give the reward. Now the key to the Pelagius Wing can be received from him for The Mind of Madness.
Journal
| Journal Entry |
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A representative from Dragon Bridge has appealed to the court in Solitude for help investigating Wolfskull Cave. Falk Firebeard has asked me to clear out the cave.
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I have confronted and stopped a group of necromancers attempting to summon Potema, the Wolf Queen, in Wolfskull Cave. I should return to Falk Firebeard with the news.
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Trivia
- If this cave is entered before starting The Man Who Cried Wolf quest the cave will have a couple of Bandits and the sinkhole is sealed off with ice preventing entry to Wolfskull Ruins.
- The interior part of the cave contains several high towers and ledges. The Unrelenting Force shout can be used to push the necromages and draugr over the edges to their deaths.
- Killing the Ritual Master will release the necromancers' hold on the Draugr, causing them to turn on their masters.
- It is possible to pickpocket the Letter from Falk Firebeard before going to the cave, thus giving the Dragonborn a 'spoiler' of what they will find there.
- It is possible to kill most of the Draugr with a bow before going through it by standing on the ledge, thus making it easier to fight the necromancer and the one draugr that are on the other side.
- The necromancers and Ritual Master next to the altar neither disappear nor respawn, making them great thralls for the Dead Thrall spell or The Ritual Stone power.
Bugs
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This section contains bugs related to The Man Who Cried Wolf. Before adding a bug to this list, consider the following:
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- PC 360 PS3 If the first Bards College quest is done before the Blue Palace court is entered, this quest may be unavailable.
- This can be fixed by completing the first Bards College quest and then entering the court again.
- PC If the Bard's College is investigated first and Falk Firebeard ends up standing there with a quest marker over his head and no other speech options, opening the console and entering "setstage MS06Start 5" (without quotes) will trigger Varnius Junius to deliver his report to the Jarl and properly progress the quest after some discussion amongst the Jarl's advisors.
- PC When Wolfskull Cave is entered after accepting quest, only mercenaries can be found, and the Ruins cannot be accessed.
- This can be fixed by fighting through to the final room where the chest is found. Once in there, the console command "TCL" (without quotes) will turn off collision. It is then possible to float through the floor. After getting through the floor, turning off "NoClip Mode" allows the Dragonborn to enter "Wolfskull Ruins" area. A follower will not follow through the floor. However, they will spawn in the next area once it is entered.
- There is a hole on the right side of the ruin after exiting the tower, that if entered cannot be exited.
- PC The console command
player.moveto RefIDwill take the Dragonborn to the corresponding NPC's location.
- PC The console command