Missing in Action

Gray-Mane Grief

The first or second time you leave one of the buildings around Whiterun’s market area, you witness the verbal wrath of an old woman named Fralia Gray-Mane, the matriarch of a powerful family in Whiterun. She shouts in an accusatory tone at Olfrid and Idolaf Battle-Born, who are from a rival family also living in this settlement. Fralia blames them for the disappearance of her son, Thorald. Most of the inhabitants believe Thorald died in a Civil War battle fighting the Imperials. If you speak with Fralia, she blames the Battle-Borns again, calling them liars. Call her on this point, and she quiets slightly, telling you that if you truly wish to help her, you should meet her at her home.

Either follow Fralia to her house and enter or head there yourself, wait an hour if Fralia hasn’t arrived, and step inside. A large man carrying an equally immense axe growls at your trespassing, until Fralia tells her other son to put the weapon away, as you’re here to help. Talk with Avulstein and answer that you’re here to help or that you need more information on what is going on. He explains his brother’s disappearance; the family believes Thorald is still alive, captured by the Imperials and held in a location that the Battle-Borns are aware of. Without proof, the family has nothing. You’re going to find the proof.

At this point, you have three main ways to prove what the Grey-Manes have suspected:

House Hunt: You can locate the House of Clan Battle-Born (ideally while you’re not being seen or when no one is at home, or you risk a Bounty increase), locate the ground-floor bedroom on the northwest side of the dwelling, enter it, and pry open the door (Expert).

Idolaf’s Key: You can find Idolaf Battle-Born and attempt one of the following:

• (Persuasion) Speak to him and get him to tell you what he knows.
• (Pickpocket) Stealthily extricate the key from his person. This opens the door in the northwest bedroom.
• Key to House Battle-Born

Once inside the small study, look for the Imperial Missive on the table. It reveals the Gray-Mane family’s suspicions: Thorald has been moved to a Thalmor stronghold called Northwatch Keep. This is the evidence Avulstein has been hoping for.

Battle-Born’s Note: Both Olfina and Jon have notes on their person, which inform you of a secret relationship they are having. Approach either of them, and pickpocket the note. Then speak to Jon, telling him you know of his clandestine affair. In return for your silence, he agrees to bring you the document you need. Meet him at the Statue of Talos at the foot of Dragonsreach, in a few hours. Wait to pass the time until he arrives.

• Imperial Missive

Return to Avulstein, who is still hiding out in House Gray-Mane. Tell him you have proof, and Avulstein is both happy and a little concerned. Northwatch Keep is heavily guarded by Thalmor justicars, and battling through them won’t be easy. But Avulstein is ready to swing his axe. You can:

• Agree that he joins you in the fight.
• Tell him to stay. Then optionally add that you’ll attempt to bring Thorald back without spilling any blood.

Avulstein agrees to these options. If you bring him with you, he acts as a Follower until his brother is found.

• Follower: Avulstein Gray-Mane

Not for Keeps

There are three different ways you can approach your assault on Northwatch Keep:

• You (without Avulstein) can attack every Thalmor enemy on sight.
• You and Avulstein can attack every Thalmor foe on sight.
• (Sneak) You (without Avulstein) can avoid every Thalmor enemy’s line of sight. Although this plan is initially cunning, once Thorald is freed, he usually alerts all the guards you’ve avoided, making your escape extremely difficult!

Once you pick a plan of action, locate the Keep and either of the two entrances. The south entrance is unlocked, while the north one features an exceptionally difficult lock to pick (Master). Assuming you slew the half-dozen Northwatch Guards under and on the battlements (or you’ll have to attempt this on your way out, along with one or both Gray-Mane brothers), enter the unlocked door.

Descend the steps from the southern entrance and hack or sneak through the mead-tasting chamber, which has two or three Northwatch Guards and a mage to worry about. Continue north, down some steps, and make a right turn, heading (east) down more steps. Turn left (north), fighting your way into a tavern room. Follow the corridor to an adjoining passage and head west into a two-tiered hallway. There are at least six more Northwatch Guards (and a mage) to fight or flee from along the way.

Climb the steps, and head to a cobwebbed storage room junction and torture room to the west, where Thorald is being held. Kill the interrogator who attacks from this room and search the robed corpse; there’s a key here allowing you to unlock the northern door. Approach Thorald after you nullify all nearby enemies. Thorald Gray-Mane is hanging in an iron wall grip. Free him from his binds. He agrees that leaving would be the best plan.

• Northwatch Keep Key

You can lead Thorald back the way you’ve fought. Or, for a shorter, bloodier excursion, head north through the jail cells and take down the remaining three Thalmor in here before racing up the steps and unlocking the door to Skyrim. You may elect to flee quickly out of the gap in the perimeter fence just by the door and forge, or remain in the exterior courtyard and kill any remaining foes. Assuming Thorald Gray-Mane is still alive, move away from Northwatch Keep.

When you’re at a safe distance from the keep, approach Thorald, who asks why you came for him. Once you reveal you’re working with his family, he asks where Avulstein is:

• If you brought Avulstein along, the two greet each other heartily and agree that Whiterun isn’t the safest place to return to.
• If you rescued Thorald alone, you tell him Avulstein’s in Whiterun, and he tells you it isn’t safe for either of them.

Thorald is off to join the Stormcloak Army, and Avulstein will follow this plan too (either from here or Whiterun). He gives you a final task: to tell Fralia “to suffer the winter’s cold wind, for it bears aloft next summer’s seeds.” She’ll know the meaning of this.

Quest Conclusion

Back in Whiterun, search out Fralia at her stall near the Bannered Mare or at her family home. Inform her that Thorald is safe but that he didn’t think it was safe to return. Repeat the phrase Thorald mentioned so she believes you, and she finds peace that both her sons are still alive, if not with her. In return for your good deeds, she presents you with a gift, forged by Eorlund at the Skyforge. If Eorlund has died, Fralia has only 200 gold pieces to reward you with.

• [Random] Enchanted Steel Weapon