Crystaldrift Cave is a simple, single-chamber cave south of Riften, on the edge of the mountains. It was once home to the adventurer Gadnor, who now lies dead on a raised rock in the middle of the room. Nobody knows what killed him, but the cave attracts a rotating cast of hungry wildlife, so you can draw your own conclusions.
What you’ll find
- A mix of animals: wolves, skeevers, trolls, bears and frostbite spiders. At higher levels they may even be fighting each other when you arrive.
- Gadnor’s body on the central rock outcrop, with his staff next to him.
- A Shrine of Kynareth for a free blessing or a cure.
- A moonstone ore vein on a ledge along the left side of the south wall, and an iron ore vein left of the tiny pool.
- A cooking pot and a surprising quantity of grilled leeks.
- A chest with leveled loot hidden behind the fire.
Quests
The cave can be the target of Animal Extermination, and it is one of the places where you can find and recruit Gunmar for the Dawnguard (Dawnguard).
Notable items
- Gadnor’s Staff of Charming, lying beside him on the rock.
- Mystery of Talara, Book II – carried by Gadnor.
- Moonstone and iron ore veins.
Tips
Because the animals sometimes brawl among themselves, it can pay to wait at the entrance and let them wear each other down before you step in. Don’t overlook the chest behind the fire – it’s easy to walk past. Smiths should grab the moonstone; it sits up on a ledge, so look up rather than at the floor. A random event may also play out right in front of the cave.
Good to know
Gadnor doesn’t come with a diary or a dramatic backstory – just a staff, a book and a cave that clearly outgrew him. With a shrine, ore, a cooking pot and a stash of leeks, it’s easy to see why an adventurer picked this spot as home; it’s harder to see why he thought the local wildlife would agree.
Nearby
Closest places covered on TamrielSaga: Ruins of Rkund, Snow-Shod Farm, Darklight Tower, Lost Tongue Overlook, The Shadow Stone.
Location data (hold, map position, editor ID) read from the Skyrim game files; details checked against community wiki articles and summarised in our own words.
