Darkfall Cave (Dawnguard) is a moderately sized cave north of Markarth, tucked between Druadach Redoubt and Mor Khazgur. On a normal day it’s a dim, wet cave with frostbite spiders and trolls. During Touching the Sky, though, it becomes the doorway to the search for Auriel’s Bow and to Darkfall Passage beyond.
What you’ll find
- A winding entrance with a frostbite spider and a webbed passage that later serves as a shortcut out.
- A bridge over a dark chasm leading to a dead end with a table, a pickaxe and moonstone ore. Cross back and the bridge collapses, dropping you into a fast stream.
- A frostbite spider den, and a giant frostbite spider lair with a chest across the stream.
- A camp with a dead Breton carrying the Darkfall Cave Note, which describes a massacre and warns of trolls further in.
- A tripwire rockslide trap and a large flooded cavern with two trolls and a chest.
- Knight-Paladin Gelebor, one of the last Snow Elves, waiting in the Chantry of Auri-El at the end – but only if Touching the Sky is active.
Quests
Touching the Sky (Dawnguard) – after the Elder Scroll points you here, you follow the cave to Gelebor and then on into Darkfall Passage.
Notable items
- Darkfall Cave Note on the Breton’s body.
- A chest at the camp with glowing mushrooms, spider eggs, troll fat and more, plus Fire Resistance potions nearby.
- Two moonstone ore veins.
Tips
Make sure followers are off the bridge before you cross back – the collapse takes them along on the ride. It’s a one-way trip, so mine the moonstone first.
The pull-chain behind the bed at the camp opens a shortcut straight to the Chantry, and the westward path leads back to the entrance. Serana also has something to say about the camp if she’s with you.
Some areas are very dark, so bring a torch or a light spell unless you like being surprised by spiders.
Nearby
Closest places covered on TamrielSaga: Mor Khazgur, Druadach Redoubt, Deep Folk Crossing, Deepwood Redoubt, Harmugstahl.
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.