Awareness of issues within an Orc stronghold can be raised through conversations in Riften. However, Largashbur can also be easily discovered by chance while traveling along the slopes of the Jerall Mountains.

At the stronghold, the defenders can be observed being killed by a giant. Even if the giant is eliminated, a warning is issued not to approach the wall. However, the wise woman Atub calms the warriors and requests the player to come closer. She explains that her tribe is suffering and begs for assistance, stating that Chief Yamarz has been cursed by Malacath - the keeper of the Sworn Oath and the Bloody Curse. The chief has grown weak, and consequently, the tribe has as well. The giants are said to sense this, invading their territory and now even attacking their home. Yamarz rejects any assistance and has commanded everyone to remain within the walls. Atub knows the tribe will not survive much longer this way and intends to petition Malacath to lift the curse. For the ritual, however, she requires troll fat and a Daedra heart. She urgently requests the player to procure these ingredients, as she herself is forbidden from retrieving them.

Bring Troll Fat and a Daedra Heart to Atub ★
Further conversation can be held with Atub, and she readily provides information about Malacath, other Orc strongholds, and Orcs in general. She then waits at the gate for the return with the ingredients.

Observe Atub's ritual
First, Atub enters the longhouse to fetch Chief Yamarz for the ritual. He is incensed that she brings a stranger along and doubts the purpose of the ritual because Malacath has abandoned him. However, she eventually convinces him and invokes Malacath outside at the shrine. She is surprised herself when the Daedric Prince actually answers. He reviles Yamarz as a pathetic weakling who does not deserve to be called an Orc and is an embarrassment. Malacath states that Yamarz has allowed giants to overrun his primary shrine. He then demands the club of the giant leader as a sacrificial offering to perhaps lift the curse from the tribe.

Speak with Yamarz
One must now listen to Yamarz claiming that the player is to blame for everything. He states that he must now fight a giant and demands assistance, requiring that his path to the giant be kept clear. Naturally, a reward would be provided for this. As soon as one agrees, Yamarz sets off.

Meet Yamarz at Fallowstone Cave / Protect Yamarz
One can choose to follow him, fast travel, or enjoy the scenery without stress. Yamarz waits at the entrance of Fallowstone Cave. The objective is to watch his back while he takes the lead.

One should follow Yamarz without interruption - there will be plenty of time to marvel at the impressive cave on the way back. Although Yamarz waits when one stops, doing so makes him a potential target for attacks. He runs through the main cavern and bypasses a giant, then proceeds through a stream tunnel into a smaller cave with a second giant (who hopefully does not stand in the way). This is followed by two bear dens, where combat is nearly unavoidable. Another tunnel leads to Giant's Grove.

There, Yamarz halts and inquires if one wishes to earn some additional gold. He proposes that the giant be killed for him and the hammer brought back. In Largashbur, he intends to tell everyone that he defeated the giant.
A choice must now be made:

• Accepting Yamarz's proposal
  
  Defeat the giant
  One proceeds down the path to the shrine while Yamarz hides behind the trees. The giant leader fights exactly like other giants, and once he is defeated, Shagrol's Hammer is taken from his inventory. However, on the way back, one is attacked by Yamarz, who cannot allow anyone else to find out the truth. Consequently, this battle must also be won, which should pose no great difficulty.
  
  
• Telling Yamarz to complete his task himself
  With a heavy heart, he runs toward the shrine and is defeated with just a single blow.
  
  Defeat the giant
  Thus, one must do it oneself. As soon as Shagrol's Hammer is claimed, the voice of Malacath is heard.

Take Shagrol's Hammer back to Largashbur
Malacath explains that the fool Yamarz constantly attempted to shirk his responsibilities through intrigue and deception. Since both he and the giant have been dealt with, two problems have been solved at once.

On the return path through Fallowstone Cave, confronting the two remaining giants is not mandatory. Although bandit corpses lie here and there, and both giants guard a chest respectively, they are not part of the objective.
The cave can be exited via the same path used to enter. However, a simpler shortcut begins where the battle against the bears took place. This path leads past a treasure chest. Beneath it lies a small, cobweb-covered cave.

Back in Largashbur, the heroic death of Chief Yamarz can be mentioned. The shameful truth is revealed by Malacath himself. He brands Yamarz a coward and a weakling, decreeing that Gularzob shall be the new leader. He then demands that the player place Shagrol's Hammer on the shrine. Atub is delighted that Malacath has not abandoned the tribe.

Place Shagrol's Hammer on the shrine in Largashbur
As soon as the hammer is deposited (simply by activating the shrine), it disappears, and Volendrung appears on the antlers above - a unique hammer possessing a legendary enchantment.
This concludes the quest.

Known Bugs

• It can happen that the giant cannot be looted after defeating Yamarz. Solution: Simply leave Giant's Grove for a brief moment and return.
• If Shagrol's Hammer is physically dropped onto the shrine (as requested by the dialogue) instead of actively activating the shrine, Volendrung may fail to appear. If Shagrol's Hammer vanishes during this, one must reload a previous save and activate/touch the shrine while the hammer is still in the inventory.

Tips & Notes

• There are four large Orc strongholds in Skyrim: Largashbur, Dushnikh Yal, Mor Khazgur, and Narzulbur.
• As long as the quest is not yet active, a giant threatening the Orc stronghold will be encountered every time one visits Largashbur.
• If Atub is not nearby after the giant attack to approach the player, and the gate is impassable, one can climb over the wall on the far right to look for her.
• If one speaks to Atub for the first time but shows no interest, she will beg the player for assistance - completely uncharacteristic for an Orc, which illustrates her despair.
• The radiant miscellaneous quest 'Find the Forgemaster's Fingers' serves to gain access to the Orc strongholds. If not completed yet, it can be obtained during the conversation with Atub. However, this is not mandatory, as one will become blood-kin anyway after completing Malacath's quest, opening all Orc gates.
• Even if one has already been named blood-kin in another Orc stronghold, Yamarz will still insult the player and treat them as a stranger.
• If time is taken for conversations, the backstory can be pieced together: the brave and strong Chief Shagrol was challenged by Yamarz. No one believed Yamarz would win. However, the duel likely took place in the presence of a giant (perhaps in Giant's Grove), who killed Shagrol and claimed his hammer. In Largashbur, Yamarz fabricated a story of his victory and became chief. These and other intrigues and machinations by Yamarz were witnessed by Malacath, who subsequently placed a curse upon him.
• Within Largashbur, slightly elevated, is a shed equipped with alchemy gear. A portion of troll fat also lies on a shelf there. This appears to be a quest design oversight.
• Although Malacath refers to the leader's club in Largashbur, he actually means Shagrol's warhammer.
• Interestingly, Atub mentions that she is a mystic. Regrettably, this school of magic does not exist in TES V.
• Although Giant's Grove is an outdoor area under the open sky, fast traveling from there is impossible.
• In the lower section of Fallowstone Cave, potions can be found on the ground, though they are difficult to spot. An Orcish helmet lies in the water inside one alcove, while another contains a bandit with a notable weapon. One iron ore vein and two silver ore veins can also be found. Inside Giant's Grove, there are four orichalcum ore veins.
• Volendrung occasionally fails to appear on the antlers. In such cases, it can be found lying on the ground behind them.
• Following the quest, several Orc warriors from Largashbur are willing to follow as companions. One is referred to as the 'Champion of Malacath'.