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Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Guide The Atlas Solstheim: Southern Ash Lands

[S.S13] Vahlok's Tomb

[S.S13] Vahlok’s Tomb

Related Quests

  • Solstheim Side Quest: Lost Legacy

Recommended Level: 30

Dungeon: Draugr Crypt

  • Corrupted Shade
  • Draugr
  • Thartan
  • Vahlok the Jailor

Special Area

  • Word Wall: Battle Fury [DB1/3]
  • Word Wall: Battle Fury [DB2/3]
  • Word Wall: Battle Fury [DB3/3]

Dangers

  • Flamethrower Trap

Puzzle

  • Nordic Puzzle Door
  • Nordic Puzzles

Miscellaneous

  • Area is locked
  • Chest
  • Loose gear
  • Lots o’ gold

Exterior

Recent seismic activity has uncovered a crack in the earth southeast of Thirsk Mead Hall. During Solstheim Side Quest: Lost Legacy, Tharsten, the historian in Skaal Village, asks you to explore it with him. Your journey takes you to the previously hidden door to Vahlok’s Tomb.

Interior

Door to Solstheim

Main Entrance Chamber

This grand chamber allows access to the two separate “wings” of this dungeon, as well as the final series of chambers ahead (west) of you. Move to the pedestal, where Tharstan reads off a cryptic riddle: “A sacrifice will bring you closer to that which you seek.” At the glowing grating on the lower stone plateau, there are corpses strewn about the floor here.

Puzzle Solution: Locate one of the dead Draugr and pick it up (manually, press and hold down the button or key), and then drag it onto the glowing grating. Move to the pedestal with the inscription and pull the switch. The grating opens, and the corpse tumbles into the fire below. Ceremonial torches flicker into life on either side of the stone plateau, and portcullis to the left (south) and right (north) open. You’re able to head in either direction.

There are also two chests to discover, low down on the northern bank by the water and underwater, just below the cage.

Main Entrance Chamber (Return): After you’ve explored both “wings” of the dungeon, return here and move to the cage on the western side of the fiery stone plateau. Inspect the indentations. These circular keyholes require you to place each of the Amethyst Claw halves into them, unlocking the cage in front of you. Pull the handle on the cage’s pedestal, and a series of ethereal blue platforms appears, creating a path to the ledge and door on the opposite wall. Follow the snaking path to the far ledge, drop down onto the dungeon passage heading west, and pass a barred door.

  • Tharstan
  • Chest (2)

Draugr Crypt (South)

Open the iron door and move into a Draugr crypt, where you have company. Slay four or five Draugr, then climb the steps to the east, encountering one or two more Draugr before reaching a pull chain and barred archway. Pull the chain.

Nordic Puzzle Chamber (South)

The exit arch opposite is currently sealed with a portcullis. Inside the chamber are three pillars around a central cylinder with colored runes that glow with unnatural light.

Puzzle Solution: The central pillar has three sides, all different-colored. Each side has a different weapon resting on or nearby its own pedestal:

There is a green side with an Ancient Nord Bow.

There is a blue side with a Staff of Flames.

There is a red side with an Ancient Nord Sword.

The three smaller pillars have “impact stones” encased into them. These activate (glowing and changing color to match the part of the central pillar opposite) when a particular weapon is used to strike any part of the smaller pillar. However, the type of weapon is important:

Use the Ancient Nord Bow (or any other bow) and fire an arrow at the small pillar opposite the green side, so it lights up green.

Use the Staff of Flames (or any other staff) and unleash it at the small pillar opposite the blue side, so it lights up blue.

Use the Ancient Nord Sword (or any other blade) and slash at the small pillar opposite the red side, so it lights up red.

The portcullis raises.

Draugr Guardians Chamber (South)

A particularly nasty Draugr rises from his central coffin, flanked by two lesser Draugr who break free of their nearer tombs. Inspect the Draugr corpses (the most troublesome of which is carrying the left half of an Amethyst Claw), pry open two chests, and gain a Word of Power.

  • Chest (2)
  • Amethyst Claw (left half)
  • Word Wall: Battle Fury [DB1/3]

Exit Tunnel (South)

Leave through the gap in one of the western sarcophagi. Pull the chain at the end of the tunnel and step back into the initial grand chamber.

Nordic Puzzle Chamber (North)

Enter a short tunnel heading north. Turn left (west) as the tunnel winds down, past a chest, and into a rather puzzling chamber. Ahead are three archways, each with spears preventing your progress. Inspect the raised pedestal near a group of nine pressure plates:

Puzzle Solution: Simply step onto the first plate in the near-right corner and sidestep left, zigzagging so you tread on each of the nine pressure plates only once. This is deceptively simple, as long as you don’t step on any plate more than once before all are stepped on, and you don’t miss any plates. Once you step on the ninth and last plate, the spears retract and progress is possible.

Draugr Guardians Chamber (North)

A powerful and troublesome Draugr clambers from his central coffin, joined by two lesser Draugr who smash out of the nearer tombs. Inspect the Draugr corpses (the most dangerous of which is holding the right half of an Amethyst Claw), wrench open the chest, and obtain a Word of Power.

  • Chest
  • Amethyst Claw (right half)
  • Word Wall: Battle Fury [DB2/3]

Exit Tunnel (North)

Leave through the gap in one of the southern sarcophagi. Pull the chain at the end of the tunnel and step back into the initial grand chamber.

Barred Door

Ethereal Platforms and Waterlogged Chamber

At the far end of the short tunnel is another pedestal and a handle. As expected, this releases another set of platforms, so quickly stand and follow each of them across the large waterlogged chamber to the upper tunnel across from you.

  • Potion

Ethereal Platforms and Waterlogged Chamber

This leads to another set of platforms, each set moving a little faster than the previous.

  • Emerald

Ethereal Platforms and Waterlogged Chamber

Then comes a final set, moving so quickly you really need to run most of the time to reach the final ledge and double wooden doors.

Hall of Stories and Nordic Puzzle Door

Through the doors is a Hall of Stories and a Nordic Puzzle Door at the far end.

Puzzle Solution: Those adventurers familiar with such a puzzle will think the rings on this door correspond to a key on the palm of the claw the door opens. Not so this time! The palm of the Amethyst Claw is blank! While you’re scratching your head, Tharstan arrives and studies the door, then heads to the wall carvings to ascertain a combination. Among the etchings are the following clues:

  • “A breeze, or maybe it’s wind.” This refers to the Hawk, to be moved on the outer ring.
  • “The night sky, and the moon.” This refers to the Wolf, to be moved on the middle ring.
  • “Something to do with fire, and scales.” This refers to the Dragon, to be moved on the inner ring.

Vahlok’s Chamber.

This is a high-status ceremonial tomb. As you edge forward, the stone sarcophagus ahead of you cracks open and the Dragon Priest Vahlok the Jailer frees himself to face you!

The battle is frantic and all the more tricky if you don’t combat Vahlok’s mainly fire-based attacks. Expect him to use Firebolt, Flame Cloak, Flames, and Incinerate and to summon a Flame Atronach. Also watch for fire damage from the pressure plates dotted around the tomb; stay on the edges of the walkways or in the water, moving to the Word Wall to keep them from triggering.

  • Danger! Flamethrower Trap
  • Vahlok
  • Chest
  • Word Wall: Battle Fury [DB3/3]