[8.21] Halldir's Cairn

[8.21] Halldir’s Cairn

Related Quests

• Other Factions: Bards College Quest: Rjorn’s Drum
• Dungeon Activity

Recommended Level: 6

Dungeon: Draugr Crypt

• Draugr
• Ghost
• Halldir

Dangers

• Battering Ram Trap (trip wire)
• Bone Alarm Trap
• Flamethrower Trap (hinge trigger)
• Swinging Wall Trap (pressure plate)

Puzzles

• Nordic Pillars

Collectibles

• Unique Weapon: Halldir’s Staff [56/80]
• Chest(s)
• Potions
• Loose gear

Take the southwest road out of Falkreath’s capital, and you’ll end up discovering this long-forgotten tomb.

Cairn Chamber

A spectral beam of energy rises from the large cairn in the tomb’s first chamber, and the bodies of several adventurers lie strewn around it. Collect a key and informative journal from a nearby pedestal, then use the key to open the nearby door and head upstairs.

• Key to Halldir’s Crypt
• Loose gear

Ghostly Catacombs

Slay the ghosts of the fallen that materialize around you as you navigate the catacombs upstairs. When you come to a pressure plate, stand on it to safely trigger the swinging wall trap ahead. Slip around the trap after triggering it to locate a valuable potion. Pick up the path again and do your best to avoid the cluster of hanging bones that can alert the Ghosts and Draugr ahead. When you reach a portcullis, pull the lever behind the nearby throne to raise it.

• Danger! Bone Alarm Trap, Swinging Wall Trap (pressure plate)
• Potion
• Loose gear

Nordic Pillars

Rotate three pillars in the passages that follow, facing each pillar’s glyphs to match the pair of glyphs that appear on the opposite wall (Hawk, Snake, Whale). Pull the nearby lever to open a passage that leads deeper into the crypts. Before heading through, see if you can unlock the Adept-level iron door near the Snake glyphs to access a small treasure nook.

• Chest (Locked: Adept)
• Potions
• Loose gear

Secret Passage

Ignore the stairs to the north and carefully set off a trip wire as you follow the secret passage to its far end, where you find a trapped chest. Disarm the hinge trigger or stand as far north of the chest as possible when opening it to avoid being burned alive by flames that spray from a nearby statue. Double back after looting the chest and take the north stairs to reach Halldir’s Tomb.

• Danger! Battering Ram Trap (tripwire), Flamethrower Trap
• Potion
• Loose gear

Halldir’s Tomb

As you set foot in Halldir’s Tomb, his spirit materializes in the energy beam in the room’s center and steps forward to confront you. Halldir’s ghost wields a range of powerful Destruction spells, including a unique special ability: When reduced to about two-thirds of his health, he splits his essence into three elemental forms. Quickly take out one of these (the Storm form by the throne is a good choice), or you’ll be overwhelmed. Once you defeat all three forms, Halldir coalesces once more and fights until you reduce him to ash.

Search Halldir’s remains to obtain a unique weapon, then scour the room for items, gold, and a boss chest. When you’re ready to leave, open the central trapdoor and carefully drop from ledge to ledge as you descend to the crypt’s entry chamber.

• Unique Weapon: Halldir’s Staff [56/80] (Halldir)
• Chest
• Loose gear