Skyrim:The Pale

Hold: The Pale (lore page)
Capital	Dawnstar (map)
Jarl's Residence	The White Hall
Military Fort	Fort Dunstad
Initial Affiliation	Stormcloaks
Imperial Government
Jarl	Brina Merilis
Housecarl	Horik Halfhand
Stormcloaks Government
Jarl	Skald
Housecarl	Jod

The snow-covered pine forests of the Pale on a rare sunny day

The Pale is a hold in northern Skyrim, with its capital in Dawnstar. It is initially affiliated with the Stormcloaks, but can be captured by the Imperial Legion after completing A False Front and The Battle for Fort Dunstad. It can also change sides as part of negotiations during Season Unending.

The Pale is sparsely populated, with safe places for travelers few and far between. The snowy terrain that makes up most of the hold is unsuitable for farming; however, the far southern edge, where not mountainous, is more hospitable.

One of three entrances to Blackreach is in the depths of Raldbthar, a Dwarven ruin south of Lake Yorgrim, the largest lake in the Pale. River Yorgrim flows from this lake.

Map of the Pale

Dawnstar, the hold capital

Flora and Fauna

Snowberries thrive in the harsh, snow-covered environment, but the sturdy blue and purple variants of the mountain flower can also be found. Along the coast, Nordic barnacles, clams, and spiky grass dominate.

Giants are common here, as are the usual denizens of the snow: sabre cats, wolves, ice wraiths, trolls, and frostbite spiders.

Places

All locations in the Pale with individual map markers are listed. There are a few places without map markers listed for their significance.

Hold Capital

•  Dawnstar — A city on the northern coast of Skyrim, and the capital of the Pale. (map)

Farms, Towns, and Settlements including Orc Strongholds and Inns

•  Anga's Mill — A small wood mill built along the north bank of the River Yorgrim, west of Windhelm. (map)
•  Dawnstar Sanctuary — A disused Dark Brotherhood sanctuary on the shore of the Sea of Ghosts near Dawnstar. (map)
•  Hall of the Vigilant — A secluded lodge south-southwest of Dawnstar, home to the Vigilants of Stendarr. (map)
•  Heljarchen Hall^HF — A piece of property in the Pale, north of Loreius Farm and south of Fort Dunstad. (map)
•  Loreius Farm — A small farm in the Pale, north of Whitewatch Tower. (map)
•  Nightgate Inn — An inn west of Windhelm. (map)
• The Stumbling Sabrecat — A tavern within Fort Dunstad. (map)

Camps, including Giant Camps and Military Camps

•  Blizzard Rest — A giant camp south of Dawnstar. (map)
•  Pale Imperial Camp — An Imperial camp in the Pale, located west of Dawnstar and northwest of Mzinchaleft. (map)
•  Pale Stormcloak Camp — A Stormcloak camp in the Pale, located southeast of Bronze Water Cave on the south shore of Lake Yorgrim. (map)
•  Red Road Pass — A giant camp south-southwest of Dawnstar. (map)
•  Stonehill Bluff — A giant camp south-southwest of Dawnstar. (map)
•  Tumble Arch Pass — A giant camp northeast of Whiterun. (map)

Caves

•  Bronze Water Cave — A small cave west of Windhelm containing leveled animals. (map)
•  Dimhollow Crypt^DG — A medium-sized cave east of Stonehills and southwest of Frostmere Crypt where Serana is trapped. (map)
•  Duskglow Crevice — A small cave south of Dawnstar containing Falmer, chaurus, bandits, and skeevers. (map)
•  Forsaken Cave — A medium-sized cave located west of Windhelm which is inhabited by icewraiths and leveled draugrs. (map)

Dragon Lairs

•  Shearpoint — A mountaintop dragon lair northeast of Whiterun. (map)

Ruins including Dwarven and Nordic

• Blackreach — An immense, naturally lit cavern inhabited by hordes of Falmer and containing the ruins of a Dwemer city. (map)
•  Frostmere Crypt — A medium-sized Nordic ruin south-southwest of Dawnstar containing bandits and the unique wispmother the Pale Lady. (map)
•  High Gate Ruins — A medium-sized Nordic ruin west of Dawnstar containing draugr and the dragon priest Vokun. (map)
•  Hillgrund's Tomb — A small Nordic ruin southwest of Windhelm containing draugr. (map)
•  Irkngthand — A large Dwarven ruin west of Windhelm containing bandits, Dwarven automatons, Falmer, frostbite spiders, and skeevers. (map)
•  Korvanjund — A medium-sized Nordic ruin northeast of Whiterun containing draugr. (map)
•  Raldbthar — A medium-sized Dwarven ruin west-southwest of Windhelm. (map)
•  Silverdrift Lair — A small Nordic ruin south-southeast of Dawnstar containing draugr. (map)
•  Tower of Mzark — A small Dwarven tower in Blackreach. (map)
•  Volunruud — A medium-sized Nordic ruin southeast of Morthal containing draugr and the ghost of Kvenel the Tongue. (map)
•  Windward Ruins — A small outdoor Nordic ruin southwest of Dawnstar containing skeevers. (map)
•  Yorgrim Overlook — A small outdoor Nordic ruin on the southern slope of the mountain range directly south of Winterhold. (map)

Standing Stones and Daedric Shrines

•  Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon — The shrine to the Daedric Prince Mehrunes Dagon. (map)

Towers and Forts

•  Fort Dunstad — A large fort south of Dawnstar initially occupied by bandits. (map)
•  Nightcaller Temple — A small fort on the clifftop overlooking Dawnstar. (map)

Landmarks, including Bodies of Water, Clearings, Ships and Shipwrecks

•  Great Lift at Raldbthar — A Dwarven lift to Blackreach located west-southwest of Anga's Mill and east of Irkngthand. (map)
• Lake Yorgrim — A lake in the eastern part of the Pale. (map)
• River Yorgrim — A river flowing from Lake Yorgrim to Windhelm. (map)
• Sea of Ghosts — A vast ocean to the north of Skyrim. (map)
• The Sea Squall — A ship docked in Dawnstar's Northstar Port. (map)
•  Shrouded Grove — A grove with a small cave located in the Pale. (map)
•  Weynon Stones — A landmark consisting of a circle of stones. It is located between Korvanjund and Fort Dunstad, just south of the path. (map)
•  Wreck Of The Brinehammer — A shipwreck northwest of Dawnstar along the shore of the Sea of Ghosts. (map)

Unmarked Places

• There is one Dragon Mound in the Pale.
  • East of the Pale Imperial Camp.
• There is one Shrine in the Pale.
  • A Shrine of Dibella east of Windward Ruins.

The Pale Quests

Quests that are started in or related to the Pale (except for radiant quests begun in other holds) are listed here:

Main Quest

• Elder Knowledge: Recover an Elder Scroll to learn an Ancient Secret.
• Alduin's Bane: Exploit the Time-Wound to learn Dragonrend and defeat Alduin at the Throat of the World.

Imperial Legion Civil War Quests

• Reunification of Skyrim: Reunite Skyrim under the leadership of the Empire. (radiant)
• A False Front: Find and deliver some forged documents to the Stormcloaks.
• The Battle for Fort Dunstad: Take Fort Dunstad for the Imperials. (radiant)
• The Jagged Crown: Find the Jagged Crown for the Imperials.

Stormcloaks Civil War Quests

• The Jagged Crown: Find this crown for Ulfric Stormcloak.

Daedric Quests

• Waking Nightmare: Relieve the people of Dawnstar from Vaermina's curse.
• Pieces of the Past: Retrieve the scattered pieces of Mehrunes' Razor and reforge this deadly blade.
• Discerning the Transmundane: Uncover the secrets of the mysterious Dwemer lockbox.

Dark Brotherhood

• Kill Beitild: Resolve a feud in Dawnstar.
• The Cure for Madness: Confront the traitor among the Dark Brotherhood.
• Where You Hang Your Enemy's Head...: Restore the Dark Brotherhood's sanctuary.
• The Dark Brotherhood Forever: Yet another child has prayed to their mother.
• Hail Sithis!: One of the biggest contracts in Brotherhood history is yours to fulfill.
• The Silence Has Been Broken: Meet Amaund Motierre inside Volunruud and learn who he wants assassinated.
• Delayed Burial: Convince an unwilling farmer to help fix a stranded jester's broken wagon wheel.
• Recipe for Disaster: Assume the identity of the famous Gourmet in an effort to assassinate the Emperor.

Thieves Guild

• Blindsighted: Stop Mercer Frey.

College of Winterhold

• Destruction Ritual Spell: Learn the most powerful Destruction spells Skyrim has to offer.

Dawnguard

• Awakening^DG: Find out what the vampires are looking for.

Side Quests

• Kyne's Sacred Trials: Participate in Kyne's Sacred Trials by hunting the guardian beasts of Skyrim.
• The Pale Lady: Find out what happened in Frostmere Crypt.
• Rise in the East: Help the East Empire Company take care of some pirates.
• Repairing the Phial: Acquire the materials necessary to repair the White Phial.
• A Scroll For Anska: Help Anska trace her roots in High Gate Ruins.
• The White Phial: Retrieve a legendary artifact to fulfill an old alchemist's wish in Windhelm.

Creation Club Quests

• Brothers in Irons^CC: Investigate a wanted criminal.
• The Gray Cowl of Nocturnal^CC: Investigate the legend of the Gray Fox.
• Saturalia Preparation^CC: Track down a traveling merchant to take part in end-of-year festivities.
• Tilted Scales^CC: Retrieve a set of ancient armor from an old warrior.
• Unholy Vigil^CC: Investigate the mysterious disappearances of Vigilants of Stendarr in the Pale.

Other

In addition, many miscellaneous quests are located in the Pale. They are listed here.