- Act 1: Quest 6 - Treasure hunt in the underground burial complex.
Prerequisites: Completion of the quest "The Way of the Voice" Quest Giver: Greybeards Region: Ustengrav in the marshes of Hjaalmarch, Riverwood, High Hrothgar Reward: Formal recognition as Dovahkiin and the Word of Power DAH.
Summary: The goal of this next long journey is to retrieve the horn from the depths of Ustengrav. Bandits, necromancers, draugr, skeletons, and frostbite spiders lurk throughout the burial chambers, tunnels, grottoes, crypts, halls, and passages. However, the sought-after horn is not in the sarcophagus; it is in Riverwood instead, where it must be collected. With this, the trials of the Greybeards are passed, and you will always be welcome in High Hrothgar.
Quest Description
Retrieve the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller
How to reach Ustengrav is up to the player. You can travel the entire way on foot, using only the quest marker and the in-game map for guidance. This allows you to discover many locations that can be explored later or used immediately as fast travel destinations. Players in a hurry can halve the journey by first fast-traveling to Whiterun or the Western Watchtower.
The final resting place of Jurgen Windcaller is located underground on the edge of the Marshes of Hjaalmarch.
When you reach the outskirts of the Marshes of Hjaalmarch, a few bandits are waiting there, having set up camp next to the tomb entrance. However, they are in danger themselves, as you will notice upon entering the burial mound. Inside, necromancers have set themselves up and are using killed and reanimated bandits as slave laborers.
In the entrance chamber, you must face the necromancers, who are fast and cast troublesome spells. Additionally, you will be attacked by the undead bandits - so there is plenty to do right away. Skilled sharpshooters can thin out the enemies from a distance first. Sneaking past will be very difficult, as more sorcerers roam the narrow corridors that follow. There, however, they are busy fighting awakened Draugr, so you won't have to do all the work yourself.
Once you have cleared the entrance area and left via a staircase ★, corridors with Draugr and rooms with burial urns to the north follow. In addition to gold coins, gems, and potions, you will also find a Restoration skill book there. However, the actual path initially leads south ★ through burial chambers and ultimately via a staircase and a stone bridge to the entrance of Ustengrav Depths.
You enter a gigantic cavern containing a waterfall, a small lake, trees, and a Word Wall. The area is patrolled by skeletons, while corridors and side rooms are guarded by the usual Draugr. Winding passages, chambers, and stone bridges lead through rooms with some useful items ★. You descend into the massive cavern in the south and continue north all the way to the lake. There, at the Word Wall, a Word of Power for the dragon shout "Become Ethereal" can be learned.
Each of the mysterious stones glows when approached and opens a specific gate.
Across a long east-west bridge in the center, you reach the eastern part of the cavern, where the path is blocked by three portcullises. However, it quickly becomes clear that the three stones on the floor are connected to the opening mechanism.
Solution to the Puzzle
You must use the dragon shout "Whirlwind Sprint" to dash past the stones and through the opening gates.
Beyond the grates, you enter an area that is almost entirely covered in flame trap floor plates. The frostbite spiders waiting for you there will run into the traps themselves. You should also watch out for the giant spider that drops down from the ceiling. After cutting your way through dense cobwebs, another grated door finally leads into the actual burial chamber of Jurgen Windcaller.
The quiet and secluded burial chamber. However, someone has been here recently.
As you approach, four giant dragon heads rise from the water. Upon inspecting the sarcophagus, you will not find the horn you are looking for. Instead, you find a note requesting you to head to Riverwood to the Sleeping Giant Inn. A door behind the tomb leads through a corridor back to the entrance area.
Read the note / Meet with whoever took the horn
You can use the long journey from Ustengrav to Riverwood to explore the land or fast travel. Once there, ask the innkeeper Delphine for the attic room. However, there is no attic room, and you are given a different one. When you go there, Delphine follows shortly after and hands over the horn to the player ★. At the same time, she asks you to close the door while she opens a secret passage through the wardrobe and asks the player to follow her.
Return the Horn to Arngeir / Learn the Word of Power from Wulfgar / Receive the Greybeards' formal greeting
To complete the quest, you must head to High Hrothgar to the Greybeards. There, you hand the horn over to Master Arngeir, whereupon all the monks gather in the main hall. You can now learn the Word of Power DAH from Master Wulfgar. As a final test, you must now withstand the unleashed voices of the monks. Following this, you are recognized by the Greybeards as Dovahkiin, and the gates of High Hrothgar are open to the player from now on. The quest is now complete.
Tips & Notes
In the depths, many passages are equipped with flame trap floor plates, which you can also lure enemies into. Oil puddles can also be ignited to roast any pursuers.
To the west, near the throne, various treasures can be gathered.
Behind the waterfall is a side room with a treasure chest, guarded by a powerful Draugr.
Another treasure chest is located in a room that can only be reached via the ruined bridges.
The Word of Power in the depths does not have to be learned now; it can be acquired during your next visit.
If you return the horn to its resting place in Ustengrav after completing the quest, you will receive a dragon soul for doing so.
After completing the quest, bonus objectives from the Greybeards can be accepted. In "The Whispers of the Word Walls," the goal is to find additional Words of Power. To do this, simply speak to Master Arngeir at any time.
The secret room in the "Sleeping Giant Inn" can be used by the player as a home. All weapons, armor, and potions can be taken, and the facilities can be utilized. In particular, the two chests are very useful - they are safe containers (tested after Delphine pulls out her leather armor at the start of the next quest).
This area is inaccessible
before the quest.
Here, a corridor to the west leads via stairs to a side room.
Useful items can be found on and behind the table at the far end.
To the left of the table, a slightly easy-to-miss chain protrudes from the wall,
which can be used to open a secret passage containing a chest.
To the south is a double grated door
behind which a chest and an arcane
enchanter are located. The grates can
be operated with switches on the walls.
At this point, the next quest is activated,
although the current one is far from being completed.
.
and rooms with burial urns
to the north follow. In addition to gold coins, gems, and potions, you will also find a Restoration skill book there. However, the actual path initially leads south ★ through burial chambers and ultimately via a staircase and a stone bridge
to the entrance of Ustengrav Depths.
, while corridors and side rooms are guarded by the usual Draugr. Winding passages, chambers, and stone bridges lead through rooms
with some useful items ★. You descend into the massive cavern in the south and continue north all the way to the lake. There, at the Word Wall
, a Word of Power for the dragon shout "Become Ethereal" can be learned.
in the center, you reach the eastern part of the cavern, where the path is blocked by three portcullises. However, it quickly becomes clear that the three stones on the floor are connected to the opening mechanism.
requesting you to head to Riverwood to the Sleeping Giant Inn. A door behind the tomb leads through a corridor back to the entrance area.
Delphine for the attic room. However, there is no attic room, and you are given a different one. When you go there, Delphine follows shortly after and hands over
the horn to the player ★. At the same time, she asks you to close the door while she opens a secret passage through the wardrobe and asks the player to follow her.
over to Master Arngeir, whereupon all the monks gather in the main hall. You can now learn
the Word of Power DAH from Master Wulfgar. As a final test, you must now withstand the unleashed voices of the monks. Following this, you are recognized by the Greybeards as Dovahkiin, and the gates of High Hrothgar are open to the player from now on. The quest is now complete.
.
and rooms with burial urns
to the north follow. In addition to gold coins, gems, and potions, you will also find a Restoration skill book there. However, the actual path initially leads south ★ through burial chambers and ultimately via a staircase and a stone bridge
to the entrance of Ustengrav Depths.
, while corridors and side rooms are guarded by the usual Draugr. Winding passages, chambers, and stone bridges lead through rooms
with some useful items ★. You descend into the massive cavern in the south and continue north all the way to the lake. There, at the Word Wall
, a Word of Power for the dragon shout "Become Ethereal" can be learned.
in the center, you reach the eastern part of the cavern, where the path is blocked by three portcullises. However, it quickly becomes clear that the three stones on the floor are connected to the opening mechanism.
requesting you to head to Riverwood to the Sleeping Giant Inn. A door behind the tomb leads through a corridor back to the entrance area.
Delphine for the attic room. However, there is no attic room, and you are given a different one. When you go there, Delphine follows shortly after and hands over
the horn to the player ★. At the same time, she asks you to close the door while she opens a secret passage through the wardrobe and asks the player to follow her.
over to Master Arngeir, whereupon all the monks gather in the main hall. You can now learn
the Word of Power DAH from Master Wulfgar. As a final test, you must now withstand the unleashed voices of the monks. Following this, you are recognized by the Greybeards as Dovahkiin, and the gates of High Hrothgar are open to the player from now on. The quest is now complete.
.
