Repairing the Phial

A Query from Quintus

Time passes. You may forget about old Nurelion and the cracked phial you found for him—that is, until a courier appears in a town that you’re visiting (providing you’ve done all the prerequisites for starting this quest). He has an urgent letter from Quintus Navale in Windhelm that must be delivered. Open the letter and read it to begin this quest. It seems that Quintus has been researching methods of repairing the Phial, and he may now be able to...with your help.

• Letter from Quintus Navale

Once inside the Alchemist’s shop, inform Quintus that you’ve read his letter. He tells you that he’s found three materials that, when mixed together, may be able to mend the crack in the White Phial. Naturally, these materials are a little hard to come by. He requires a scoop of Unmelting Snow from the summit of the Throat of the World; a tusk of a Mammoth, ground to a fine powder as only giants know how; and the briar heart from a Forsworn of the Reach. Ask Quintus about each material so you learn a little more about each one.

A Cracked Concoction

Material 1: The Summit of Skyrim

Head to the Throat of the World, either by the precarious trek to High Hrothgar and through the deep mist, up to Paarthurnax’s meditation place, or by Fast-Traveling, as you’ll already have visited this perch during the Main Quest. Climb past Paarthurnax to a steep sloped area and an unmelting snowbank. Activate it to remove some snow.

• Unmelting Snow

Material 2: Among the Giants

Now travel to the mountains south and slightly west of Dawnstar, and climb to the large giants’ camp of Stonehill Bluff. The place is surrounded by rocks on three sides, so the entrance and exit are the same. Head into the bluff, and check one of the grinding receptacles near a campfire; the Mammoth Tusk Powder is in there. You may take it without being attacked by the giants roaming this area, but you’ve got to be quick!

• Mammoth Tusk Powder

Material 3: Slaughter at Red Eagle Redoubt

The final ingredient is the magically enhanced heart of a Forsworn Briarheart. Any Briarheart will do; if you don’t already have one, find one lurking atop the mountains on the Reach’s eastern edge. You’re heading to Red Eagle Redoubt, accessible via a lengthy ascent from the Karth River near Sky Haven Temple. Approach the entrance, and remove all Forsworn threats from the exterior before entering the interior, known as Red Eagle Ascent.

Pass the wooden stakes and skewered animals, and bring your weapons to bear on a couple of Forsworn in a gloomy grotto you can ignite if you blast the oily floor with fire. Climb up the sloping path and steps to an upper grotto, which features a flat stone plateau with an altar on it and four or five additional foes. Climb the wooden steps, then disappear up the exit corridor that leads back out to an iron door and the Reach.

Turn right (north) and begin a battling ascent up a large set of stone steps. Make sure the Forsworn are tumbling off here in a spectacular death plummet, and not you! Head under the three stone arches as you reach a sizable Forsworn camp and further enemies, clearing the area methodically so you aren’t attacked from behind. Don’t rush this assault. Continue around in a clockwise circle, and trot south up the steps to the south, leading into the Sundered Towers. The Briarheart is up here. Clear the area of other foes first, before killing the Briarheart and searching the corpse. Pluck the Briar Heart from it. Then search the area for any treasure you wish to scavenge.

• Briar Heart

Quest Conclusion

Return to the White Phial and tell Quintus of your success. He grabs the materials from you quickly concocts a gelling agent to seal the White Phial as he heads upstairs to Nurelion’s bedchamber. As he demonstrates the solidity of the White Phial, the old elf smiles, uttering the word “marvelous” before lying still on the bed.

• The White Phial

Postquest Activities

Alas, Nurelion dies in his bed. Quintus gives the repaired Phial back to you, for your help. To use it, pick the type of potion you want it to contain, and thereafter when you drink that potion, the empty White Phial remains in your inventory, refilling every 24 hours. Quintus is now on friendly terms with you.