A Daedra’s Best Friend

A Shaggy Dog Story

You may begin this quest once you reach Level 10. Enter the town of Falkreath and speak to an Imperial Soldier at the entrance. He asks whether you’ve seen a dog. Whatever your answer, he points you toward the town’s Blacksmith, Lod, who has been asking about the hound. You may also go straight to Lod to begin the quest.

Locate Lod either inside or outside his Blacksmith’s shop, and he asks whether you’d be interested in coaxing a dog that he’s seen. He spotted it on the road close to town and wants to befriend it. You can:

• Agree to find the creature, and Lod gives you some meat to help you gain the dog’s interest.
• (Persuade) Or you can agree to find the creature...for a price. If you’re successful, Lod agrees, gives you half a payment and the meat.

Then exit Falkreath and locate the wolfhound with the strange bark, a dog named Barbas. You should begin the main Daedric Quest from this point, rather than returning the dog to Lod. Otherwise, Barbas won’t follow you, although you can mention to Lod that the dog was more trouble than he was worth (and receive a small reward of gold).

• 25 gold pieces
• Mammoth Snout

Speak to the dog named Barbas. Unexpectedly, the dog speaks back! The dog introduces himself as Barbas, and he has a problem you can help him with: He recently got into an argument with his master, which got a little heated, and he needs you to settle the disagreement. After his banishment, Barbas and his master can only manifest close to a shrine, and he requests you meet him there. He finishes by warning you not to trust anything his master says.

• Follower: Barbas

You and your new best friend don’t have to journey to Haemar’s Shrine immediately: You can commence other adventuring tasks; Barbas heads to Haemar’s Shame to wait for you. Once you decide to continue this quest, trek to Haemar’s Shame and enter Haemar’s Cavern.

Expect a cold reception once you step into the cavern; vampires and their thralls are holed up in this maze of rock and snow. Fight or sneak your way past these creatures, until you reach a larger chamber with wooden fencing around a central hole. Head down the ramp into the hole, where you find a tunnel leading toward Haemar’s Shame. Deliver a killing blow to the Frostbite Spider in the next room of jagged rocks before following lanterns and torches down a tunnel, past a room of bloodied cages, and around to a subterranean stream.

Continue up a connecting tunnel and into the main shrine chamber, where you encounter several vampires of differing strengths. Deal with them. When the area is devoid of bloodsuckers, approach the statue of Clavicus Vile, stepping over the dead offering, and activate the statue.

Vile is pleased to see you. He says that in killing his vampiric followers, you’ve already helped him fulfill a set of wishes—that his worshippers be cured. Mention that you’re here to reunite Vile with Barbas, and the Daedric Prince’s jovial nature changes. Apparently, he’s sick of that “insufferable pup” but continues to listen to you, as he really doesn’t want to be confined to this backwater shrine. There is a way Barbas can earn a place back at Vile’s side: An incredibly powerful axe is residing somewhere deep inside Rimerock Burrow. Bring this back, and Vile insists he will grant you a reward, with “no strings attached.” Agree, use the pull chain to access the exit tunnel, and exit Haemar’s Shame via the quick exit.

A Deal with a Daedric Prince

Across the mountains, east of Solitude, is a high and precarious path carved into the side of the rocky terrain. Cross the small bridge and enter Rimerock Burrow. Draw your weapon and prepare to fight Sebastian Lort and his conjurations, who are using this remote grotto as a base. The mage and his Atronach aren’t of much importance, but the Rueful Axe lying on the altar to the rear of the Burrow most certainly is. Grab it, along with any other treasure you deem valuable, and leave.

• Rueful Axe

Return to Haemar’s Shame, and work your way through the chambers, polishing off any vampires you may have missed during your first exploration. Activate Clavicus Vile’s shrine, and the Daedric Prince congratulates you on your accomplishment and your new loyal friend Barbas. Vile then says he could be persuaded to let you keep the Rueful Axe...if you use the weapon to strike Barbas down!

Quest Conclusion

At this point, you have a choice to make: give Vile the axe or kill Barbas. If you give Vile the axe, the deity is disappointed at your loyalty and at the fact that he now faces an eternity with Barbas. The dog waylays Vile’s threats to turn you into a worm and insists that Vile keep his end of the bargain. He grants you his boon, as previously agreed. Barbas and his master are intertwined for an eternity.

• Masque of Clavicus Vile

If you give Barbas the axe right between his furry eyes, the deity is most pleased with your double-crossing and the fact that he doesn’t have to spend an eternity with Barbas. He leaves you to use the Daedra-harming Rueful Axe.

• Rueful Axe

Postquest Activities

You can return to Lod and explain that Barbas was more trouble than he was worth, after which you’re given a small reward for your time.

• Leveled gold pieces