Prerequisites: Level 10 + "Dawnguard" DLC installed Quest Giver: Dawnguard recruiter or city guard rumor Region: Dayspring Canyon, Fort Dawnguard Reward:Crossbow and 45 steel bolts directly, extensive unowned equipment as loot
Summary: After hearing about the reformation of the Dawnguard, you must travel to their headquarters. There, you meet Isran and a few others, learn about the Dawnguard and their goals, and receive your first assignment.
Quest Description
After installing the "Dawnguard" DLC and reaching level 10, the Hall of the Vigilant is attacked by vampires and death hounds, unseen by the player. All present Vigilants of Stendarr, including Keeper Carcette, are killed, and the hall is ransacked and burned down.
The Hall of the Vigilant before and after the attack.
At the same time, you are randomly informed by a city guard that the Dawnguard - a group of vampire hunters - is reforming in the old fort near Riften. You may also encounter a traveling Dawnguard scout who recruits new members and provides initial information. This starts the main quest of Dawnguard.
Speak to the leader of the Dawnguard
Fort Dawnguard can initially only be reached via Dayspring Canyon, and later via fast travel. The entrance to the canyon is located along the road between Riften and the Morrowind border.
The entrance to Dayspring Canyon is a cleft in the rock along the road.
The canyon opens into a valley with a lake. The winding path leads directly to Fort Dawnguard. Along the way, you meet the farm boy Agmaer, who has also heard about the vampires and the Dawnguard and now wishes to join. Near the fort, you can encounter the Orc Durak, who lost two wives to the vampires and can provide some initial general information about the fort. He also mentions that the Vigilants of Stendarr primarily combat Daedra and were unprepared for a vampire attack. This is why Isran split from them many years ago and revived the legendary Dawnguard - true and serious vampire hunters.
After entering the fort, you witness a conversation between Isran and Vigilant Tolan. You learn that Isran's past warnings were not taken seriously and that the Vigilants are now paying the price. Tolan explains that they are being attacked by vampires everywhere and asks Isran for help.
After this conversation, Isran turns to the new recruit Agmaer, hands him a crossbow, and lets him practice. He then approaches the player, answers questions about the Dawnguard and their motivation, and asks if you want to help rebuild and equip the fort. He needs people to take action against vampires out in the world while the fortress is being restored.
From Tolan's explanations, Isran deduces that the Vigilants of Stendarr recently poked around in a vampire lair, which angered the vampires and ended with the destruction of the Hall of the Vigilant. Tolan joins the conversation again and explains that Brother Adalvald suspected a long-lost vampire artifact inside Dimhollow Crypt. But just like with Isran, nobody listened to him.
Isran tasks the player with finding out what is so important to the vampires inside Dimhollow Crypt. With this assignment, the first quest ends and the next one begins automatically.
History of the Dawnguard
Isran on the Dawnguard in general:
"Vampires are a menace. They need to be hunted, rooted out and destroyed. There was once a group dedicated to a similar purpose. They called themselves the Dawnguard. It was a long time ago, but the idea was a sound one. That's why I've brought them back."
Regarding Fort Dawnguard, Isran explains:
"It belonged originally to the Jarl of Riften, back in the Second Era. But it was a bit of a black mark on the hold's history. I'm trying to restore its reputation."
In another conversation, he provides more detail:
"Back in the Second Era, the Jarl of Riften had a son. Adventurous boy, more than was good for him, it turned out. Ended up a vampire. The Jarl couldn't bring himself to kill his own son, so he spent a fortune building this place and hired men to guard it. Their job was to keep the Jarl's son from leaving. They took their job seriously, and guarded him well. But eventually they had to kill him. The Jarl banished them from the hold, but their purpose remained. They fought vampires wherever they could find them. I'm going to carry on that tradition."
Sorine Jurad about the Dawnguard:
"I've heard some stories, I don't know if any of them are true. Supposedly they were hired to guard a vampire, but ended up becoming vampires themselves after seeing how powerful he was. They terrorized the Rift until someone finally put them down. But none of that matters now. At least Isran is trying to do something honorable with them."
Tips & Notes
Dayspring Canyon can also be found by chance. In this case, the quest begins after speaking with Agmaer or Durak.
Directly opposite the entrance to the fort, to the north, you will find Mossy Glen Cave. The challenge of dealing with 4 bears is rewarded with a treasure chest.
Whether Isran addresses the player or Agmaer first depends on who is standing closer to him.
Isran encourages the player to explore Fort Dawnguard and take anything they need. A fair amount of unowned items can be found.
The first Dawnguard armor pieces and weapons can be found within the fortress. Additional ones can be acquired during the following quests.
Even during this first visit to the fort, you will find 2 armored hounds, Bran & Sceolang, who can be acquired later.
From inside the fort, you can access Dead Drop Falls (a chest on the upper left is initially unreachable). Jumping down courageously leads into a massive cavern that can be crossed via a path secured by traps. To move forward, several small puzzles must be solved (finally without any quest markers). At the end, a quite generous reward and a passageway to Dead Drop Mine await, which also contains valuable loot.
and 45 steel bolts
directly, extensive unowned equipment as loot
. The winding path leads directly to Fort Dawnguard
. Along the way, you meet the farm boy Agmaer, who has also heard about the vampires and the Dawnguard and now wishes to join. Near the fort, you can encounter the Orc Durak
, who lost two wives to the vampires and can provide some initial general information about the fort. He also mentions that the Vigilants of Stendarr primarily combat Daedra and were unprepared for a vampire attack. This is why Isran split from them many years ago and revived the legendary Dawnguard - true and serious vampire hunters.
between Isran and Vigilant Tolan. You learn that Isran's past warnings were not taken seriously and that the Vigilants are now paying the price. Tolan explains that they are being attacked by vampires everywhere and asks Isran for help.
. He then approaches the player, answers questions about the Dawnguard and their motivation, and asks if you want to help rebuild and equip the fort. He needs people to take action against vampires out in the world while the fortress is being restored.
deduces that the Vigilants of Stendarr recently poked around in a vampire lair, which angered the vampires and ended with the destruction of the Hall of the Vigilant. Tolan joins the conversation again and explains that Brother Adalvald suspected a long-lost vampire artifact inside Dimhollow Crypt. But just like with Isran, nobody listened to him.
. The winding path leads directly to Fort Dawnguard
. Along the way, you meet the farm boy Agmaer, who has also heard about the vampires and the Dawnguard and now wishes to join. Near the fort, you can encounter the Orc Durak
, who lost two wives to the vampires and can provide some initial general information about the fort. He also mentions that the Vigilants of Stendarr primarily combat Daedra and were unprepared for a vampire attack. This is why Isran split from them many years ago and revived the legendary Dawnguard - true and serious vampire hunters.
between Isran and Vigilant Tolan. You learn that Isran's past warnings were not taken seriously and that the Vigilants are now paying the price. Tolan explains that they are being attacked by vampires everywhere and asks Isran for help.
. He then approaches the player, answers questions about the Dawnguard and their motivation, and asks if you want to help rebuild and equip the fort. He needs people to take action against vampires out in the world while the fortress is being restored.
deduces that the Vigilants of Stendarr recently poked around in a vampire lair, which angered the vampires and ended with the destruction of the Hall of the Vigilant. Tolan joins the conversation again and explains that Brother Adalvald suspected a long-lost vampire artifact inside Dimhollow Crypt. But just like with Isran, nobody listened to him.
, Bran & Sceolang, who can be acquired later.
(a chest on the upper left is initially unreachable). Jumping down courageously leads into a massive cavern that can be crossed via a path
secured by traps. To move forward, several small puzzles must be solved (finally without any quest markers). At the end, a quite generous reward and a passageway to Dead Drop Mine await, which also contains valuable loot.
