Bloodline

Chaperoning Serana

Continue your conversation with Serana. Topics include figuring out how to escape this crypt, the reasons why she was locked away, details about her home, and the Elder Scroll she carries on her back. From your quizzing, you determine Serana has been locked away in this damp tomb for many years, especially as she has little knowledge of the current political situation across the realm. She’s unsure who she can trust, so she’s understandably cagey when you ask her who imprisoned her and why. When you’ve learned enough, Serana becomes your Follower.

• Follower: Serana

Exit the crypt using the bridge to the northeast. Your escape is soon interrupted as the two hunched gargoyle statues shatter, exposing the demonic beast within. Attack both fiends immediately, as fleeing is somewhat treacherous. Then head east up the earthen slope, opening a wooden door and continuing into an unexplored area of the crypt.

Enter the stepped chamber, climb to the top, and pull the lever. This raises an exit gate to the north and stirs a couple of Draugr from their slumber. Don’t attack any gargoyles she may have raised to help you! After defeating any remaining Draugr and skeletons, head through the open gate, moving north under the open portcullis to a ceremonial burning chamber.

Their thrones may be crumbling, but these dangerous Draugr and skeletons are ready to attack. While you can use any tactic you wish to defeat them, stealth and ranged combat work well here: You can sneak around the top of the stepped area without attracting attention and escape this chamber, or you can pick off your foes one by one. Ridding the crypt of enemies is worth it; there’s a treasure chest and a Word Wall in the northeast corner with a Word of Power to learn.

• Word of Power: Drain Vitality

Head north through the iron door, and yank the chain to raise a final portcullis, allowing you to escape out onto the windswept surface of Skyrim.

Lair of Lord Harkon

After you exit Dimhollow Crypt, you can figure out exactly where Serana needs to travel. A map marker in the northwestern corner of Haafingar Hold, close to Northwatch Keep and Rimerock Burrow, is your destination. If you’ve been to either location before (perhaps as part of Side Quest: Missing in Action), Fast-Travel there. Otherwise, the fastest way to reach your destination is to visit Solitude, Dawnstar, or Windhelm, where you ask the ferryman on the docks for a ride to “an island near the border of High Rock.” For a fee of 500 gold, he’ll let you off at Icewater Jetty. For more information on the ferry system.

After a long trek or a Fast-Travel, head past Northwatch Keep to discover Icewater Jetty, where a rowboat is moored. In the gloomy distance, a forbidding citadel rises from the Sea of Ghosts. Step into the boat (or, if you’re feeling foolish, start to swim) and travel to Castle Volkihar.

The impressive castle, guarded by a tall tower by the jetty (where you can take another rowboat back to the mainland), is both imposing and vast. Ascend the snow-lined cobblestones of the arched bridge, passing between (thankfully inert) gargoyles. Serana mentions that she won’t need to be chaperoned for much longer. After a shocked Watchman realizes who is standing by his gate—Lady Serana—he raises the portcullis, allowing you into Volkihar Keep.

An angry vampire named Vingalmo stops you just inside the entrance. It takes but a moment for him to realize just who has returned. He quickly turns and moves to the balcony overlooking a large banquet hall and announces Serana’s arrival. Upon closer inspection, it seems the inhabitants of this castle are feasting on bloody mead and the innards of freshly culled thralls.

You quickly realize that the leader of the vampires within this keep—Lord Harkon—is Serana’s father. Judging by their somewhat acerbic conversation and Harkon’s matter-of-fact nature, it seems father and daughter are not on the best of terms. Harkon seems happier to see the safe return of the Elder Scroll Serana carries. He also curses Serana’s “traitor mother” before turning his attention to you.

He expresses his gratitude for his daughter’s safe return and asks your name. Answer how you wish, and give Harkon your impression of his faction. The conversation continues to the possibility of a reward for your services, and Harkon believes he has one equal in value to the Elder Scroll and his daughter. He offers you his blood and with it the greatest of powers!

Quest Conclusion: Bite or Flight

Lord Harkon reveals his true form: a winged demonic Vampire Lord that towers above his minions. Now you must make your choice!

You can:

• Accept his gift and become a vampire. Harkon clasps his jaws around your neck, and you lose consciousness.
• Refuse his gift, angering Harkon. He banishes you from the castle, and you lose consciousness.

Postquest Activities

When you wake up, Dawnguard Main Quest: Power of the Blood begins. Read that quest next.

When you wake up, Dawnguard Main Quest: A New Order begins. Read that quest next.