Proving Honor

Trial of the Cohort

The Companions have witnessed your previous work ethic, and once you revisit Whiterun, enter Jorrvaskr, and search out Skjor, you are greeted more warmly. He has a more interesting task for you to help with. It appears a scholar visited the Companions a week ago, explaining where they could find another fragment of Ysgramor’s Blade. Seeking out the fragment is considered a trial; do well, and you can consider yourself a member of the Companions. Farkas is your Shield-Sibling for this adventure.

Farkas is usually within Jorrvaskr and is ready to retrieve the fragment when you are. You may speak also to Farkas about personal matters if you wish.

Ysgramor’s Blessing

After a trek through the wilderness with Farkas, navigate northwest of Whiterun and up to Dustman’s Cairn. Drop below the standing stones. Arm yourself and begin to navigate through these catacombs, and listen for Farkas’s advice. Take any treasure as you descend past the loose burial stones. Continue deeper into a ceremonial hub chamber with multiple archways and a couple of thrones.

The way forward is blocked. The only area of interest is an archway with a raised portcullis, which leads to a small alcove with a lever. Activate it, and the portcullis drops, trapping you inside but raising the portcullis of a nearby archway. Farkas looks in and tells you he’ll find the release, but as he does, he is surrounded by the members of the Silver Hand! Severely outnumbered, Farkas backs up before letting out a guttural growl and transforming into a massive werewolf that slaughters the Silver Hand where they cower! After freeing you, speak to Farkas, who explains his metamorphosis (known colloquially as his Beast Form)is a blessing bestowed upon some of the Companions.

Press on through the archway Farkas just opened. You face multiple Draugr and Silver Hand as you descend into this elongated crypt. Beware of occasional dart traps (watch for pressure stones beneath your feet that trigger them), and continue the slaughtering up until you reach the large crypt chamber with a locked iron door at the eastern end. Check the burial urns nearby for a key that opens this door.

• Dustman’s Cairn Key

Quickly deal with the Skeever problem once you’re through the door, passing interconnecting chambers and stone passageways. A battle against a Giant Frostbite Spider occurs soon afterward. Continue through another bank of crypts, until you reach the major tomb room, where a Draugr Wight is buried. Strange chanting draws you to the area behind the raised tomb; this is a Word Wall, and a Word of Power is drummed into your subconscious! With the chant fresh in your memory, inspect the raised tomb and take the fragment lying on top of it (along with any other spoils you wish).

• Word of Power: Fire Breath
• Fragment of Ysgramor’s Blade

If you check your map (or the map provided in the Atlas), you’ll spot an exit corridor off to the side of this tomb room, behind the raised stone alcove. Alas, when you attempt to breach it, the burial stones will not shift, but the Draugr begin to attack. Drop into the main chamber, where a protracted battle with at least 20 Draugr (including a dreaded high-ranking Draugr that clambers out of the raised tomb) takes place. Keep moving, retreat to safety if you need to, and don’t leave Farkas to fend for himself! A final Draugr crashes through the burial stone, allowing access up a tight side tunnel. At the tunnel’s end is a lever, which opens a secret rock door leading back to the cairn’s entrance.

Quest Conclusion: Brotherhood

From here, it is a simple matter of returning to Jorrvaskr and seeking out Skjor, who gladly takes the fragment of Ysgramor’s Blade from you. Vilkas is also waiting, having heard how well you did as a Shield-Sibling. The Companions are assembled in the rear courtyard. They are concluding a circle of judgment, and Kodlak informs you that you are now a member of the Companions. You are welcomed into the fold, but you still need to prove yourself.

Postquest Activities

Speak to Aela, Farkas, Skjor, or Vilkas, and tell them you’re looking for work to begin any other Faction Radiant Quests.