A Return to Your Roots

An Unmistakable Warble

Locate Alftand on the glacial mountains southwest of Winterhold. Enter and work your way through the Alftand Glacial Ruins, battling Dwarven Spheres and Spiders, maneuvering through the tower and connecting chambers of the Alftand Animonculory (opening the elevator back to the Glacial Ruins as you go). Battle the Dwarven Centurion in the Alftand Cathedral to reach a second elevator (opening the exit allowing you to ascend to the surface exterior), before descending back into the Cathedral. Use the Attunement Sphere to activate the Dwarven Mechanism to access the hidden entrance to Blackreach.

The first structure you’ll see as you step into Blackreach for the first time is a one-story, dwarven stone structure guarded by a Dwarven Sphere. Head there, tackling a Falmer along the way, and open the gold door leading into Sinderion’s Field Laboratory. There are numerous key ingredients for your crafting here, as well as a workbench, Arcane Imbuer, and an Alchemy Lab. Sinderion himself is looking a little worse for wear. Inspect the skeletal corpse to find Sinderion’s Field Journal.

• Sinderion’s Field Journal

Read this journal to begin the quest. These are a series of research notes recognizing the spectacular potential of the rare, subterranean Crimson Nirnroot. Sinderion was in the process of collecting 30 specimens when he died under mysterious circumstances. It now falls to you to complete his task. The first Crimson Nirnroot is easy to spot; it is growing in the Dwemer bowl on the counter.

Begin to search for Crimson Nirnroot throughout Blackreach. They are dotted around the landscape and make the same ethereal chime when you’re near to them as their overworld species. Continue the hunt throughout Blackreach.

Quest Conclusion

Avrusa Sarethi hosted Sinderion when he lived in Skyrim to research the Crimson Nirnroot. She was a student of sorts and is mentioned in his journal. After you finish collecting one or more (or 30 Crimson Nirnroots), you have the option to visit her. You can visit her before, but she’s far less helpful.

Head to the Sarethi Farm in the Rift. Notice that in her vegetable plot, she is growing Nirnroot (the green kind), which is an unusual feat. Ask her about this, and she’ll tell you Sinderion taught her.

If you have one or more Crimson Nirnroot, but fewer than 30, she will comment on your finding. You can also mention finding Sinderion’s remains, too, and she’ll converse with you about this sad demise of a good man.

Once you have 30 Crimson Nirnroot (or more), bring them to Avrusa Sarethi. She is impressed enough to offer you a tome she says belonged to Sinderion. You also receive Sinderion’s Serendipity:

• The Nirnroot Missive
• Perk: Sinderion’s Serendipity (25% chance to create a second duplicate potion whenever you create a potion using Alchemy)

Postquest Activities

Veteran explorers may have figured out that Sinderion is the same Alchemist from Oblivion who assigned a quest named “Finding Your Roots.” Evidence of this is presented in his journal and tome.