The Taste of Death

Prelude: Hunger in the Hall*

Kleppr and his wife, Frabbi, are a fountain of knowledge about rumors in and around Markarth. Visit them inside the Silver-Blood Inn, and ask around for rumors. Eventually, either of them lets you know that the Hall of the Dead in Markarth has been closed. They suggest you speak to Brother Verulus to find out more information about why this has happened.

Visit Understone Keep, dug into the western canyon side of Markarth. In the entrance hall, listen to Thongvor Silver-Blood arguing about access to the Hall of the Dead with Brother Verulus. After the conversation is over, step up and speak to Verulus, who tells you the Hall is not able to be visited. You can:

• (Persuade) Tell him you’re here to help. This is a novice challenge, and you always succeed in this.
• (Bribe) Offer a small contribution to his causes.
• (Intimidate) Or tell him you don’t like being ignored. As Verulus cannot be intimidated, this challenge always fails.

Success in either of these options results in Brother Verulus agreeing to let you investigate the strange goings-on inside the Hall of the Dead. The Priesthood of Arkay will offer a reward if the odd activities in the Hall stop. You are given a key allowing you to enter, and another Miscellaneous Objective begins. Ask for more information on Arkay or the Hall before you part ways.

• Markarth Hall of the Dead Key

Travel southwest from Brother Verulus’s location. Open the heavy gold doors and enter the Hall of the Dead. The eerie, mist-laden hall seems deserted, until you hear a voice speaking to you. It believes you are exhibiting the signs of temptation, that there is a hunger inside; you see the dead and your mouth waters. Continue this unnerving search of this giant tomb, until you stumble upon Eola. She refuses to talk about anything other than the deliciousness of human flesh. And the craving! Don’t worry; you have a friend now. Although you can voice disgust as you speak with her, Eola is an emissary of Namira, the Lady of Decay. Namira has a place where you can sate your appetite without judgment. Ask where this place is, and Eola explains that it’s inside Reachcliff Cave. However, the dead there have started to stir. Meet Eola there, and she vows to fight with you to Namira’s embrace. This quest officially begins now.

Before you commence Daedric Quests: The Taste of Death, head out of the Hall of the Dead, into Understone Keep, and find Brother Verulus again. With Eola now absent from the Hall, it has been cleared of any oddities. He is most pleased with this news and rewards you with his own Amulet. The Prelude (Miscellaneous) Quest now concludes.

• Amulet of Arkay

Carnage at Reachcliff Cave

Journey east and slightly south of Markarth, along the goat trails of the Reach. Search among the rocky hills and furrows for a small procession of megalith arches leading to three standing stones at the entrance to Reachcliff Cave. Eola is waiting here, ready to plunge her blade into a Draugr or 20. You may bring her along (she acts as a Follower during this time, helping you stave off enemy attacks), or you can tell her to wait here if you want to fight on your own (or with other Followers). Now venture into the cave.

• Follower: Eola

It takes only a stride forward to wake the dead from this location. Muster forth your best Draugr-fighting implements and start carving, burning, or blasting your way into them. Beware of the high-ranking Draugr clambering out of the first coffin you see. Head down the connecting tunnel into a wider passage with stairs and a Nordic face carved into a stone column. After more Draugr fighting, head to the blocked-off arch and turn right (west). At the far end is an open cavern and a crumbling bridge section. To the south is a second bridge section with a jump to a treasure chest. Choose either route, working your way southward and down.

Check a wall handle (which opens a wall section next to it) and a pull chain (which opens an exit route), and continue to the Iron Door. This leads into a ceremonial hall and a large shrine to Namira at the far end, where the remaining Draugr in this cave await. After you defeat them all, along with the powerful lead Draugr who rises from the head of the table, your Draugr-culling task is complete.

Although you can retreat into the adjoining corridor with the pull chain, which leads to a corridor that will hasten your exit back into the Reach, in this particular case it is worth taking the long route back, finding Eola along the way (if she didn’t accompany you). Eola is happy to have her shrine back and wishes to prepare a grand feast to welcome you into Namira’s coven. You have the honor of bringing a fresh kill for the main course: a priest with a taste for the easy life. Bribe him with the gold Eola gives you, coax him back here, and Namira will take care of the rest. Now follow the corridor to the north from the adjoining room, and return to Markarth.

• 100 gold pieces

Coven of the Cannibals

Return to the Hall of the Dead (if you’ve cleared it), or explore Understone Keep until you find the priest. Tell him you require his services. You can:

• (Persuade) Tell him about the treasure to share.
• (Bribe) Pay him to accompany you.
• (Intimidate) Or tell him it wasn’t an invitation but an order.

Should any of these attempts succeed, Brother Verulus agrees to accompany you and becomes a temporary Follower. You need not assign him any equipment.

• Follower: Brother Verulus

Head back to the Reachcliff Cave (Fast-Traveling is helpful here, although you and Brother Verulus can trek here on foot). Descend the empty caverns, and head back into the ceremonial hall in the deepest recess of the cave system. Check that Verulus is behind you and lead him in, where he greets the assembled clan with faint suspicion. Eola tries to allay his fears, telling him he’s with friends. Verulus begins to speak a little more slowly, as if his feeble mind is beginning to be controlled by unknown forces. Verulus seems to think he’s been invited for dinner. Eola tells him to lie down. Verulus agrees, as he’s suddenly very tired, and clambers onto the sacrificial altar to Namira. Eola turns to you; the meal is on Namira’s table, and you’re going to be carving.

Quest Conclusion

Strike Verulus while he sleeps, using any weapon you wish, ideally a melee one. This raises your Bounty in the Reach. Then search the fresh corpse. His still-warm body lies before you; leave it alone or consume a section of Verulus’s blood and bile. Namira begins to speak with you. She is pleased by your consumption and grants you her ring. Wear it when you feast on the flesh of the dead, and her power will flow through you. You may thank or annoy Namira with your final response before this quest concludes, then speak to Eola again to take her as a Follower.

• Ring of Namira
• Follower: Eola

Postquest Activities

You may speak to any of the assembled coven guests at the feast. Some sit quietly and have little to say (except a few respectful remarks between mouthfuls of monk). However, there are more prominent members of this coven too. They are:

All of these secret cannibals strike up a conversation if you speak with them at the feast. They also have a particular conversation (regarding aspects of the penchant for flesh) when you return to Markarth and find them again. Brother Verulus also mentions this near-fatal feast if you save him from becoming the main course.

In addition, whenever you kill a bipedal entity, you can feast on them (this is a benefit the Ring gives you only if you’re wearing it) and search them. Finally, Eola can become a Follower if you speak to her after siding with her.