Black Book: The Sallow Regent

Dukaan’s Dark Secret

In the five Black Book quests, you must check out one of five ancient books that teleport you to Hermaeus Mora’s realm of Apocrypha. This specific book is hidden deep within White Ridge Barrow.

Reach the Black Book chamber by navigating through White Ridge Barrow. If you require a walkthrough, consult Solstheim Side Quests: Spider Crafting*. You do not need to finish that quest, but you must complete the following tasks:

• Enter the spider-filled entrance passage, and descend the spiral steps. Move through the grand hall and defeat more spiders and parasitical arachnids with their Bandit victims.
• Head roughly south, maneuvering toward the White Ridge Sanctum entrance. Activate the door bar, enter another huge hall, and engage (or avoid) Merilar Rendas and his spider friends.
• Continue south to an iron door, which leads to a grand crypt with a Word Wall and a Dragon Acolyte Priest named Dukaan. Defeat or avoid this foe, then claim the Word of Power for the Cyclone Shout.
• The Black Book is on a pedestal on the chamber’s opposite side (below where you entered).
• Reach the pedestal containing the Black Book, and read it. You are transported to Apocrypha.
• Word of Power: Cyclone
• Black Book: The Sallow Regent

Seeker of Knowledge

You are transported into the partial void, where strange hovering lanterns flit across a long and dark corridor. They are important, as they provide light in this forsaken place, and the darkness harms you. Watch out for the tentacles in the small pond near the pod, then set off down the dark and blackened path heading roughly south.

Continue south to a second tentacle pond, and a pod, then turn west and walk up the sloping tunnel to a larger, partially lit chamber with stacks of books and a possible Spell Tome. There are also a few gems and scrolls to search for. A Seeker appears to block your path, after which you must move to a second tunnel (south) and ascend it.

This seems to lead to a dead end, but continue south and a platform uncurls, linking to a well-lit area with a black table and a possible Spell Tome. When the lights go out, head up the steps to the south, attacking (or running past) a Lurker and winding your way up to the highest platform.

Quest Conclusion

This splits into two platforms before merging again. These narrow bridges have Lurkers to attack or avoid (there are a total of three), before you head south and up to the final platform. Here you find a vessel and two black tables with assorted items (including another possible Spell Tome). But you’re here for this Black Book: open it, and you can select from among the following powers:

• Seeker of Might (Combat skills are all 10% more effective)
• Seeker of Sorcery (All spells cost 10% less Magicka)
• Seeker of Shadows (Stealth skills are all 10% more effective)

Postquest Activities

Choose your power, then open the book to return to Solstheim.