Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Guide The Atlas Hold 8: Falkreath Hold

[8.25] North Shriekwind Bastion

Dungeon: Vampire Lair

Skeleton
Vampire

Dangers

Battering Ram Traps (pressure plates)
Flamethrower Traps (handle)

Underground Connection: South Shriekwind Bastion [8.26]

Collectibles

Skill Book [Speech]: 2920, Second Seed, v5

Special Objects

Word Wall: Elemental Fury [3/3]
Chest(s)
Potions
Loose gear

This site marks the northern entrance to Shriekwind Bastion, a cave passage that runs through the mountains north of Falkreath’s capital. Passing through this cave allows you to quickly cut through the mountains and places you near a Word Wall.

Exterior

Before entering North Shriekwind Bastion (or after exiting the pass, if you’ve traveled up from the south), make a long trek up a snowy path that leads to the exterior ruin. You’ll find a locked chest at the top.

Chest (Locked: Novice)

Exit to Skyrim (North Shriekwind Bastion)

Main Cavern

Slay a vampire and loot a chest in the bastion’s first few chambers, making your way to this massive cavern. A handle here activates a rising floor trap in the lower chamber, but ignore this and head upstairs, slaying a Skeleton Archer on your way to [2].

Chest
Potions
Loose gear

Altar Chamber

Claim loot from several receptacles in this small, quiet chamber before advancing to [3].

Chest
Potions

Junction Chamber

Pull a wall chain to raise a portcullis and enter this small chamber, where three handles are found on a central dais. Turn each handle to open two secret nooks that each contain loose gear, along with the room’s south portcullis. Loot the chest to the south, then notice three chains on the wall above. Pull the left chain to open the north portcullis and make your way back to [1], smashing more skeletons and avoiding a pair of pressure plates along the way.

Danger! Battering Ram Traps (pressure plates)
Chest (Locked: Apprentice)
Loose gear

South Access Entry

Slaughter skeletons and sidestep pressure plates in the long tunnel that leads back to [1]. Navigate the next passage to reach this small, dark alcove, where you find valuable gear. Search the alcove’s walls to discover a chain that exposes a secret passage when pulled. The passage leads outside to South Shriekwind Bastion [8.26]. Head through if you’re in a hurry to cut through the mountains. Ignore the passage and continue exploring the bastion otherwise, making your way back to [1] on your way to [5].

Exit to Skyrim (South Shriekwind Bastion)

Loose gear

Fire Trap Passage

This chamber lies above [2], but the two rooms are not connected. Turn the handle on the pedestal here to open the far portcullis. Unfortunately, this also causes multiple flamethrowers to ignite in the room’s center. Crouch and creep past the flames, slipping between the high points where opposing spouts intersect.

Danger! Flamethrower Traps (handle)

Master Vampire’s Lair

Open the door beyond the flamethrowers to at last arrive at the head vampire’s lair. Slay the master vampire, then search the rear circular passage to locate a large chest. Claim a Skill Book that rests atop a podium near the steps, then scale the spiral staircase that follows to ascend to the bastion’s highest levels.

Skill Book [Speech]: 2920, Second Seed, v5
Chest

Word Wall Chamber

Slay the powerful Draugr that bursts out from this large chamber’s central sarcophagus, then approach the nearby Word Wall to gain a new Word of Power. Claim potions from the nearby pedestals and raid the chest that’s nestled between the statues before stepping outside via the nearby door for a spectacular view provided by the Shriekwind Overlook.

Word Wall: Elemental Fury [3/3]
Chest
Potions