The Jagged Crown

What Real Soldiers Look Like

Speak with Legate Rikke in Castle Dour. She tells you that Ulfric’s right-hand man, Galmar Stone-Fist, has located the final resting place of the Jagged Crown. You’re going to claim it before the Stormcloaks do. Rikke is already assembling her men outside of Korvanjund. You should join them immediately. Ask her for more information on the Jagged Crown and the tomb of Korvanjund before you leave.

Northeast of Whiterun, in the lower foothills where the ground first turns from tundra to snow, is a depression in the ground—the remains of a large cairn and the entrance to these ancient Nordic temple ruins and Jarl’s tomb. Of course, you can barge toward the entrance on your own, but a more measured (and recommended) plan is to meet Legate Rikke and her quartet of men on the slopes outside the entrance. The troops include Hadvar, the man you met at Helgen. She curses the damned rebels, who got here first, and asks you to move out. This occurs once you confirm you’re ready. As you walk up the hill, Legate Rikke finishes her stirring speech. These foes may be known to you, but their allegiance means they are enemies now. Charge!

If you’re using melee weapons, it is recommended that you lead the charge, sprinting down the steps and up the other side to engage the bowmen, while the rest of your troops fight in the lower ground.

If you’re using bows or projectile spells, stay on the edge of the depression and rain missile attacks down upon the enemy.

As there are only around four Stormcloaks guarding this entrance, combat is swift and straightforward. Meet Legate Rikke atop the steps by the interior entrance. She issues another warning before heading into Korvanjund Temple. Follow her at once.

Carnage in the Crypt

Rush into the crypt entrance chamber, which is wide and contains a small contingent of foes. Slaughter them quickly, after which Legate Rikke posts two of her detachment to guard this entrance. Head down the steps to the north, before turning right (east) and slaying a trio of Stormcloaks prowling the ledge surrounding this sunken hall. It is usually best to head in first to avoid pushing past friends to reach the foes. After the battle, you can reconvene near Legate Rikke at the northern side of the lower hall near the massive cave-in that dominates the middle of this chamber. Rikke looks down the tunnel steps ahead and guesses there’s a group of foes waiting for you on the other side. She’s hoping you can find a different way in. You can:

• Ignore the warning and plow straight down the stairs and into a fight with around four to six Stormcloaks in the bridge chamber beyond.
• Or, head around the hallway’s upper ledge, to an entrance directly above where Rikke is waiting. This brings you into the same bridge chamber, but on the upper bridge. It is easier to sneak, fire long-range attacks, or race along the bridge and around the upper balcony area, tackling foes one at a time.

Your comrades attack the enemies from the lower level, so taking down the enemy from two directions is safer and splits the enemy’s targets. When the bridge chamber is dripping Stormcloak blood, check the main stepped area for treasure (near the open chest), and then find the upper exit passage to the west. Legate Rikke and her remaining soldiers are clustered around the corpse of a Draugr. It is the first time they’ve seen such a corpse. Rikke bolsters their courage, and the infiltration continues, down to the iron door leading into the Korvanjund Halls.

Enter the first chamber, climbing to the balcony and slaughtering two foes before venturing north along an upper passage that leads to steps leading down. Along the way is a side tunnel with a swinging blade trap; this leads to some treasure and a lever that stops the axes. Venture into the Nordic Hall of Stories, with or without the Legate. At the hall’s far end is a Nordic Puzzle Door and two dead soldiers. Take the Ebony Claw they were carrying. This holds the key to opening this puzzle.

• Ebony Claw

Puzzle Solution: The door consists of three “rings” that rotate when you activate them. Each has three animals plated into the structure. You unlock the central keyhole with the Ebony Claw. This puzzle is inaccessible without it. The puzzle solution is on the palm of the Ebony Claw; rotate it in your inventory to see the three circular petroglyph carvings on the Claw’s palm. Move the rings so the Wolf, Moth, and Dragon appear on the outer, middle, and inner rings, respectively. Then insert the Ebony Claw into the keyhole.

Venture through the rumbling door and through connecting corridors into the guardian hall chamber. To the west is a portcullis preventing you from reaching the exit door. Simply head to the chamber’s northwest corner, into the passage that winds up, past an Iron Dagger on a plinth. Cross a stone bridge to a balcony with a chest. Of more importance is the handle on the northwest corner of this balcony, overlooking the chamber below. Pull the handle to raise the portcullis, and then drop down to aid the Legate as four or five Draugr clamber out of their tombs to stop you. Now enter the crypt.

After a few more winding passages, you find Korvanjund’s deepest chamber—the ceremonial crypt of a long-dead Jarl. Approach the slumped Draugr sitting on the throne in the middle of the chamber. Two guardians climb out of the tombs that flank the throne, prompting a vicious battle between the Imperials and Draugr.

When the combat ends, pry the crown off the Draugr that sat on the throne. With the Bone Crown in your inventory, you can return to General Tullius. Before you leave, continue past the throne, heading south to a Word Wall, and absorb another Word of Power! Then climb the steps to the east, back into the temple. Remove the door bar, and exit Korvanjund by this quicker route. Leave the Legate to finish her search, and head back to Solitude.

• Bone Crown
• Word of Power: Slow Time

Quest Conclusion

Enter Castle Dour and locate General Tullius, who is weighing his options regarding a possible attack on Winterhold. Inform him that you have the Jagged Crown. You can ask him about the war as well. The General then wonders if there’s someone he can trust to deliver a message of great import to Jarl Balgruuf of Whiterun.

Postquest Activities

This prompts the immediate start of Civil War Quests: Message to Whiterun.