A New Source of Stalhrim

Hard as Iron and Cold as Death

This quest is accessible only after you complete Dragonborn Main Quest: The Fate of the Skaal and you’ve visited the Skaal Village. When you’re there (or you leave and return one or two times), you’ll overhear the village chief Fanari Strong-Voice discussing the disappearance of the village’s blacksmith, Baldor Iron-Shaper. Deor is certain he saw two elves maneuvering something suspicious in the nearby woods. The following Miscellaneous Objective is now active:

You can now stop and speak with the gruff and curt Deor Woodcutter. He tells you Baldor forges Stalhrim, an art sacred to the Skaal. To make such weapons, others would need to learn that knowledge from Baldor. He reiterates the story of the two elves dragging something behind them in the forest. They were headed south and west. You’re to search for any sign of Baldor; the Skaal would be grateful.

Baldor’s last known whereabouts were centered around an abandoned lodge to the southwest, close to Frostmoon Crag. When you finally reach this lodge, a group of four Thalmor impolitely dissuade you from any further progress. Engage them in combat, and loot each corpse after you defeat them. One of them is carrying the key to the lodge and a handwritten note. Curious...

• Key to Abandoned Lodge
• Handwritten Note

The note is a stern message from “A,” regarding a severe displeasure at the lack of successful interrogation. The key opens up the lodge, which is otherwise sealed. Head inside, surveying an untidy huntsman’s refuge, but don’t forget to head down into the cellar; the missing smithy is trussed up in a corner yelling for help! Baldor remembers you and your help to the Skaal. Now these elves have taken him from his home and are interrogating him. Their leader Ancarion has a map, supposedly showing a hidden source of Stalhrim. The map belongs to the Skaal; Ancarion’s fate is in your hands!

Ancarion’s Actions—Threatening the Thalmor

Along the rugged northwestern coast near the glacial caves and snowy mountains is a little-known windswept pier. Head to Northshore Landing, sheathing your weapons as you close in on an Altmer boat with three Thalmor soldiers guarding it. You’re told to move along, as you’re apparently trespassing. You can:

• Tell the upstart that you have business to discuss with his leader. This affords you a conversation with Ancarion.
• Tell the soon-dead High Elf to taste your blades and begin combat. End it after all three soldiers and Ancarion are bleeding into the water.

Assuming you didn’t wade in thirsting for blood, board the vessel and speak with Ancarion. As expected, he is a haughty and objectionable High Elf. He doesn’t seem interested in your request for the map and asks why he shouldn’t kill you where you stand. You can:

• Tell him the blacksmith won’t talk. If successful, the Thalmor depart after handing you the map.
• (Intimidate) Tell him his life is forfeit and to leave the island. If you’re successful, the Thalmor give you the map and make preparations to flee.
• (Persuade) Tell him that he wants Stalhrim weapons, and you can help him obtain some. You let him know Baldor told you he’d help teach you to make the weapons, which you can sell on to Ancarion. (Persuade) However, he’ll need the map; otherwise Baldor won’t divulge anything.
• Or you can pickpocket the map if you’re suitably and sneakily inclined.
• Or you can stop this conversation and lay waste to these High Elves, positioning yourself a little better to land the first blow into Ancarion before combat becomes too messy.

There are three possible outcomes to this confrontation:

• Ancarion and his men give the map over to you and flee.
• Ancarion believes you’ll sell him Stalhrim equipment, starting the Miscellaneous Objective: Sell Stalhrim Armor and Weapons to Ancarion. He buys only Stalhrim-based items, paying you for them (whether you’ve made them or not).
• You slay Ancarion and his men and take the map. He has it on his person.

Quest Conclusion

Return to Skaal Village and locate the forge, which is working again now that Baldor is back in the village. Hand him the map (making sure you look at it first to see the location of the deposit). He’s extremely grateful and tells you that if you bring Stalhrim to this forge (and only this forge), you can use his tools to craft any armor or weapons you wish—that is, providing you have the Ebony Smithing perk.

Postquest Activities

• Stalhrim Source Map

As you can see from the map, the source isn’t that far away from Northshore Landing, and once you read it, the marker for the Stalhrim Source appears on your world map. Visit this Draugr barrow entrance (before or after finishing the quest), which is filled with deposits to chip away at, provided you have the Ancient Nordic Pickaxe. There is a considerable haul here, as well as smaller deposits all over Solstheim (including Secondary Location: Horker Iceberg, northeast of Northshore Landing).

• Stalhrim Ore (30)