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Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Guide The Atlas Hold 1: Haafingar

[1.21] Thalmor Embassy

[1.21] Thalmor Embassy

Related Quests

Habitation: Town

  • Brelas
  • Elenwen
  • Etienne Rarnis
  • Gissur
  • Malborn
  • Razelan
  • Rulindil
  • Thalmor Soldier
  • Thalmor Wizard
  • Tsavani

Quest Items

  • Dragon Investigation: Current Status

Collectibles

  • Skill Book [Illusion]: Before the Ages of Man
  • Area Is Locked (Master; quest required)
  • Chests
  • Potions aplenty
  • Loose gear

This gated estate stands tall among Haafingar’s central mountains and remains securely locked until you advance to Main Quest: Diplomatic Immunity. Those skilled in the shady arts can find plenty of chances for stealth and thievery here.

Exterior

No guards patrol the embassy’s outer courtyard, and there’s nothing of particular interest out here. The embassy’s inner courtyard is patrolled by powerful soldiers and wizards, but you must first pass through the central structure in order to get there.

Barracks

The barracks are unlocked, and a few hardened soldiers lie in wait here, along with a couple of spellcasters—these eager troops will attack you on sight. Either flee immediately or slay these challenging adversaries so that you may loot the many chests within the barracks.

  • Chests (4)
  • Potion
  • Loose gear

Thalmor Embassy (Interior)

Swipe the odd potion from a shelf or table as you explore the embassy. Tsavani waits in the locked northwest kitchen, but you cannot enter until you’re let in during the Main Quest. Upstairs, an elf named Elenwen is hosting a marvelous dinner party. Collect many more potions around the dining room, then head for the southwest exit to return outside.

  • Area Is Locked (Master)
  • Potions aplenty

Elenwen’s Solar

Upon entering this small structure, eavesdrop on the conversation between Gissur and Rulindil. Loot a chest to the north to obtain special quest-related documents and a key; you can obtain this key from Rulindil by either slaying the man or picking his pocket. Search closets and shelves for potions, and don’t miss the upstairs chest or a third chest that’s hidden beneath the west basement stairs.

  • Interrogation Chamber Key
  • Chests (3)
  • Potions
  • Loose gear

Dungeon

The Thalmor Embassy dungeon lies directly below Elenwen’s Solar. This area is strictly off-limits, but you can obtain a key that grants you entry by looting a chest within Elenwen’s Solar or by slaying Rulindil at the same location and then looting his corpse or picking Rulindil’s pocket. Open a particular chest down here to obtain the final quest-related document you seek. If you like, open a holding cell and speak with a prisoner named Etienne Rarnis to free him. The dungeon also sports a trapdoor that leads to a nearby cave. Obtain a key from any of the dungeon’s guards (kill or pickpocket).

  • Area Is Locked (Master)
  • Trapdoor Key (Thalmor Soldier)
  • Chests (2)

Reeking Cave

A lone Frost Troll lurks within this frigid cave, which you can only access via the locked trapdoor within the embassy dungeon. Either slay the troll or run for your life before it can harm Etienne or Malborn as you all escape. Pause only to claim an Unusual Gem, as well as a Skill Book that lies near the corpse of a fallen mage.

  • Area Is Locked (Key)
  • Skill Book [Illusion]: Before the Ages of Man
  • Unusual Gem: [3/24]