Online:Prisoner of the Past

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Uncover the truth about a woman's ancestor. Zone: Blackreach: Greymoor Caverns Quest Giver: Alwyn Location(s): Midnight Barrow, Lightless Hollow Reward: Draugr's Demise Average Leveled Gold XP Gain: Standard XP ID: 6475

Help Alwyn retrieve her ancestor's remains

Alwyn Felsdottar has been haunted by visions ever since someone scattered her ancestor's bones and belongings in Midnight Barrow. I promised to help her retrieve his remains to uncover the truth about his past, and allow his spirit to rest again.

Quick Walkthrough

1. Enter the Midnight Barrow.
2. Recover the Jarl Hagridden's remains and watch the visions connected to them.
3. Leave the barrow and find Alwyn outside.
4. Answer Alwyn's question.

Detailed Walkthrough

Learn the truth behind Jarl Hagridden's betrayal

A Nord woman, Alwyn, is being haunted by the ghost of her distant ancestor, the disgraced Jarl Hagridden. He begun appearing in her dreams since she arrived in Dusktown, and has barely gotten any rest. She believes her ancestor was calling her to Midnight Barrow to finally put him to rest, but the place is filled with grave robbers who have angered the dead, leaving her too afraid to go in alone.

Exploring the barrow with Alwyn, the two of you collect Jarl Hagridden's remains in the hope that you can finally put him to rest and end his torment. Starting off at the entrance to the south, you can head east into the first chamber, then head north and turn east until you reach a small rectangular room containing Hagridden's Helm. Picking it up will show you a vision of the jarl speaking with a strange woman he calls Essenia, arguing against her wishes for some form of sacrifice for her immortality. Alwyn will comment that her ancestor was likely never married and no woman had been mentioned by any family member recounting Hagridden's betrayal.

Continuing east, two rooms over Hagridden's Sword sits in the corner of a small room. Picking it up will show a vision of Jarl Hagridden lying prone on the ground, being confronted by Swordthane Ysmal. He is accusing the jarl of betraying his hold, and of sending his soldiers to their deaths on purpose. The jarl weakly argues that he gave no such order, but the swordthane refuses to hear any of it. After the vision fades, Alwyn expresses her surprise that this was his crime, explaining that she was told he alerted the Reach of an attack but no one ever said why, and that it never seemed to make sense. She also notes the surprise in Jarl Hagridden's voice at the accusation in the vision.

Heading east then north two rooms, in the northwestern corner of Delida the Damned's chamber lays Hagridden's Bones. Again, picking them up will show a vision, this time of Essenia relaying orders from Jarl Hagridden to Swordthane Ysmal, dismissing his concerns when he questions why he is being sent so far into the Reach. Once they disappear, Alwyn comments that she must have had a lot of influence to have been able to boss a thane around like that.

Finally, going west into a more natural-looking passage, Hagridden's Shield is found lying in the middle of the rough stone path. The final vision plays out in front of the two of you, showing Jarl Hagridden being sentenced by his swordthane to never reach Sovngarde. Swordthane Ysmal's voice and movements are full of hatred and venom, and Hagridden argues against the accusations of treason, pleading that it was Essenia who betrayed the hold and that she should be in his place. The swordthane ignores him as he gives the final order to bury him alive.

Alwyn immediately flees the barrow, not wanting to be inside it longer than necessary. Talking to her outside, she appears somewhat out of breath and shaken by the whole experience. She asks for her ancestors remains, expressing pity for him despite her nightmares. She believes eternity in the Midnight Barrow is cruel, even for what he supposedly did. Alwyn also expresses that from the visions it seemed more as if Jarl Hagridden were the one betrayed and not the one doing the betraying, and asks for your take. No matter the answer, she promises to give him a proper burial, the specifics being different depending on whether you claim he is innocent or guilty. She will thank you, and give you a reward for helping her.

Notes

• Lady Essenia, who appears in several visions, also appears during The Lady of Blood.

Quest Stages

Prisoner of the Past
Finishes Quest	Journal Entry
	I should enter Midnight Barrow with Alwyn to retrieve her ancestor's remains. Objective: Enter Midnight Barrow
	I need to find Jarl Hagridden's bones and belongings. Objective: Find Jarl Hagridden's Remains: 0/4 Hidden Objective: Retrieve Hagridden's Helm Hidden Objective: Retrieve Hagridden's Shield Hidden Objective: Retrieve Hagridden's Sword Hidden Objective: Retrieve Hagridden's Bones
	I should exit Midnight Barrow and bring Alwyn her ancestor's remains. Objective: Exit Midnight Barrow
	I should talk to Alwyn now that we've recovered all of Jarl Hagridden's scattered remains. Objective: Talk to Alwyn
Finishes quest	I told Alwyn that her ancestor shouldn't be held responsible for his lover's betrayal. I should speak to her about what she intends to do with his remains. Objective: Talk to Alwyn
Finishes quest	I told Alwyn that her ancestor bears some responsibility for what happened to his soldiers, even if he didn't betray them himself. I should speak to her about what she intends to do with his remains. Objective: Talk to Alwyn

Notes

* Any text displayed in angle brackets (e.g., <Alias=LocationHold>) is dynamically set by the game and will be filled in with the appropriate word(s) when seen in game.

• Not all Journal Entries may appear in your journal; which entries appear and which entries do not depends on the manner in which the quest is done.
• Stages are not always in order of progress. This is usually the case with quests that have multiple possible outcomes or quests where certain tasks may be done in any order. Some stages may therefore repeat objectives seen in other stages.