Forbidden Legend – p. 1 | Side quests (2024)

In this section of our TES V: Skyrim guide, we provide a comprehensive overview of the initial part of the Forbidden Legend side quest. The mission comprises various tasks, requiring you to explore the Gauldur legend and visit the Folgunthur ruins to locate an amulet fragment. The quest features a host of enemies to defeat, including Draugrs, undead, and a mini-boss – Mikrul.

• Activating the quest
• New main objective: Investigate the Gauldur legend
• New main objective: Learn the truth from Daynas Valen
• New main objective: Read Daynas Valen’s notes
• New main objective: Find the Gauldur Amulet Fragment in Folgunthur

Activating the quest

There are several ways to trigger the Forbidden Legend quest. One easy method is to go to the Jarl’s library in Dragonsreach, located in the northern part of Whiterun, and read the popular book Lost Legends, which can also be found in other random locations. Alternatively, players can travel to Saarthal and acquire the note held by a powerful boss or read the documents found in Reachwater Rock.

If none of these methods appeal, you can always visit Folgunthur, located in the marshes south-east of Solitude, and find the useful notes by the body of a man. Regardless of the method you choose, you will eventually learn about the legend of the mage Gauldur and what befell him.

Note! The quest comprises multiple sub-tasks that can be completed in any order. While our guide provides one option, players are free to follow their own path, with only the order changing but not the content. Therefore, players should not get lost at any point during the quest.

New main objective: Investigate the Gauldur legend

After reading Lost Legends, the location known as Folgunthur will be marked on your map. It’s advisable to head south-east of East Empire Company. Once you arrive, you will discover that a group of adventurers has set up camp beside the ruins. Enter the camp to find it deserted, with the campfire long extinguished.

Search the tents to find Daynas Valen’s Journal in one of them. According to the notes, Valen is a researcher keen to explore the history of Gauldur. Before heading to Folgunthur, he hired a few mercenaries and obtained the claw, a key required to unlock the door inside the catacomb.

New main objective: Learn the truth from Daynas Valen

Enter the dungeon. Inside the corridor, there’s a pressure trap and some gold. In the room, you will find a puzzle with movable panels featuring animal images. You can solve it to open the side panel with a treasure inside, but this is somewhat pointless, as you only need to obtain the Ivory Dragon Claw (see further) to unlock all the doors.

Proceed further and be prepared to fight a couple of Draugrs and face additional traps. After overcoming these obstacles, head to the upper floor and locate the body of Daynas Volen. Search it to find the Ivory Dragon Claw and Daynas Valen’s Notes.

The new main objective is to read Daynas Valen’s notes. According to the scientist’s information, Gauldur was killed by his sons who were envious of his power. The sons split their father’s amulet into three pieces and scattered them across the land. All of them were eventually caught by the guards and locked in three ancient dungeons.

The first son can be found in Folgunthur, the second in Saarthal, and the third in Geirmund’s Hall. To reforge the amulet, all three pieces of the ancient artifact must be found.

The new main objective is to find the Gauldur Amulet Fragment in Folgunthur. Put the Claw into the plate beside Daynas, and a bridge leading to the further part of the underground will lower. Beware of the undead hiding in the niches on the sides of the room and pressure traps.

In the further part, there are a few gates and four levers, which open and lock the doors. To move on, pull the first lever from the left and the second from the right. Beware of falling rocks as you progress. Kill the guarding Draugrs and proceed to the room with the three animal pedestals.

Pull the lever by the throne on the left to open a mechanism that leads to a slightly more powerful Draugr and a puzzle consisting of three animal figures. Set them in the same order as in the previous room (snake, fish, hawk). Pull the chain in the throne room to open a passage to the lower part of the dungeon.

Be prepared to face two Frostbite Spiders at the end of the corridor before entering the big room with coffins. Fight six Draugrs and solve the puzzle by the door using the correct combination: hawk, hawk, dragon. Arrange the rings and put the claw into the hole in the middle of the door. Enter the Folgunthur Crypt.

If you enter the crypt, get ready for a challenging battle with Mikrul, one of Gauldur’s sons. He is located in a large sarcophagus in the center of the room, and his undead servants will also come back to life. Although they are numerous (about ten), they are not too strong, and the champion will be the most difficult opponent for you. He uses a large sword that can cause significant damage and also drain your life with every hit. Therefore, the best tactic is to keep running away from the enemies and attack Mikrul from a distance. Once you defeat the strongest Draugrs, all of his servants will perish as well.

Once you defeat the enemy, be sure to search his body to find the Gauldur Amulet Fragment (which is also an amulet itself) and the Sword he used. With both items in your possession, proceed to the next room and open the chest. Then, approach the Word Wall to learn the Frost Breath. Once you have done all of this, you can leave the dungeon.

FAQ

What is Forbidden Legend?

Forbidden Legend is a side quest in the game Skyrim. It involves finding and assembling three pieces of an amulet that belonged to the ancient Nordic heroes, Gathrik, Sigdis, and Mikrul. The quest begins when the player finds a book called Lost Legends, which tells the story of the amulet and the fate of its owners. The quest takes the player through several different locations, including the ruins of Saarthal, Folgunthur, and Geirmund’s Hall. The final battle takes place in the tomb of Mikrul, where the player must defeat him and his undead minions to retrieve the final piece of the amulet.

What are the rewards for completing Forbidden Legend?

Completing the Forbidden Legend quest rewards the player with a unique enchanted sword called the Gauldur Blackblade, which absorbs health from enemies and transfers it to the wielder. In addition, the player receives the Gauldur Amulet, which grants bonuses to health, magicka, and stamina. The amulet can be disenchanted to learn its enchantment, which can then be applied to other items. Finally, completing the quest also unlocks the secret passage in the ruins of Geirmund’s Hall, which leads to a hidden treasure room containing various valuable items and gold.