Skyrim: Forbidden Legends Side Quest Walkthrough (2024)

One of the most well-kept secrets in Skyrim is a forbidden legend that tells of three brothers who killed their father and stole his power. They were only stopped after razing several villages to the ground at the cost of the High King's Court Wizard, Geirmund.

The details are well-hidden and the remaining evidence of what the brothers have done has been locked away for thousands of years. That has not stopped intrepid explorers from trying to find out the truth. You become the latest one after discovering the first whiff of the tale, though there are many ways to discover it.

Updated November 15, 2023 by Quinton O'Connor: We've done some reformatting and other basic article housekeeping to refresh this guide for further reading.

How To Start Forbidden Legends

The quest will automatically start when you learn about the three brothers. Unlike most quests in the game, you will have to stumble across clues to start the quest instead of speaking to a quest giver. Or, you could search for it directly using the methods below.

You will be sent to Folgunthur to begin your search. If you had not started it there, you will read Daynas Valen's journal before being prompted to enter the ruins itself.

Exploring Folgunthur

The first thing that you see inside the ruins are puddles of blood spilled from dead adventurers surrounded by draugr. Walk through the dungeon, following a linear path that will lead you into an open room with waiting draugr.

The gate will slam shut behind you. Defeat the draugr and head to the second floor via a staircase in the north of the room. You will find Daynas Valen's body with his notes and the Ivory Dragon Claw.

Use the Claw to lower the bridge. You will find your first puzzle there.

The Lever Puzzle

This hallway is a fairly common puzzle. The path forward is blocked by four metal gates that are controlled by four levers. It is complicated by the levers activating different pairs of doors. If you are struggling, pull the levers in the order indicated below.

Another puzzle awaits in the next room.

The Pillar Puzzle

This is a fairly unusual puzzle. You enter a room with two hallways and a mechanism that only allows you to enter one at a time. The first room leads to a trio of engravings. The sequence, starting with the one closest to the door, is below.

Look for a lever near one of the thrones to access the other room. You find a trio of stone pillars. You have to spin the pillars to match the above order.

The only remaining obstacle is a Dragon Claw Door, similar to the other ones you have encountered. The combination, from the outermost ring to the innermost one, is:

The Battle With Mikrul

See Also

Forbidden Legend - p. 2 | Side quests - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Game Guide

The final opponent within the dungeon is Mikrul Gauldurson, one of the three brothers. He is a swordsman that fights using a health-absorbing sword. More draugr will rise to help him fight, making being overwhelmed a real possibility.

Once you defeat him, make sure to take his unique sword and Gauldur Amulet Fragment. A Word Wall at the end will provide you with a word for Frost Breath.

Searching Geirmund's Hall

Your investigation will bring you to a long-buried cave at the lake to the east of Ivarstead. The entrance is an unassuming cave in the center of it. Defeat some skeevers and look out for a circular hole in the cave to drop into the actual ruin.

You will need to defeat more draugr and Frostbite Spiders throughout the dungeon. It is a relatively straightforward encounter that likely won't be terribly challenging for you.

Solving The Pillar Puzzle At Geirmund's Hall

Your progress will be stopped by a locked door that needs you to rotate four pillars to match a sequence indicated earlier in the dungeon. If you are stuck, the solution is below.

The next room has several draugr, including a pair located on an upper floor that is difficult to attack from a distance. It would be easiest to run towards the raised area at the end of the room where you can find Geirmund's body. Take the key from its hands to open the locked door opposite. You will be able to attack the remaining draugr.

Defeating Sigidis Gauldurson

You fight one of the brothers, Sigidis, as your final opponent. He is an annoying archer that uses magic to create clones of himself as a form of camouflage. He will only take damage if directly hit.

Make sure to loot his unique bow and Gauldur Amulet Fragment before you leave.

Jyrik Gauldurson And Saarthal

The final brother, Jyrik, can only be accessed through the College of Winterhold questline. His tomb, Saarthal, is explored early on in the story. It has its own share of puzzles and other interesting mechanics.

We cover how to reach the end and defeat Jyrik in our guide for Under Saarthal.

Reaching Reachwater Rock

The next and final stage is to combine all three fragments back into their completed form. You will have to visit Reachwater Rock, behind a waterfall near Markarth.

You will see a dead adventurer next to the Emerald Dragon Claw shortly after entering. Pick it up and use it to open the first door. The combination, from the outermost ring to the innermost ring is below.

This is immediately followed by a second door that uses the Ivory Dragon Claw. It has the same combination.

Defeating The Brothers

You will need to confront the three brothers, one after the other, to complete the quest. They will repeat the same mechanics that they first used against you with little variation.

Mikrulwill fight you first, raising a small group of draugr to serve as his minions. Sigidis will try to defeat you after Mikrul yields. He will use the same trick, though you can only use the horns as a guide. Finally, Jyrik will make his attempt.

With the three brothers defeated, their father, Gauldur, will appear. He reforges the amulet into its full glory before disappearing. The quest is completed.

Next: Skyrim: Lost Legacy Side Quest Walkthrough