The White Phial is a bittersweet miscellaneous quest in Windhelm, in Eastmarch. Nurelion, the elderly and ailing Altmer who runs the apothecary named after the artifact, has spent his life chasing the White Phial – a vessel made from Unmelting Snow from the Throat of the World that purifies, amplifies and refills whatever is poured into it. He has finally found where it lies, but he is far too frail to fetch it himself.
How to start
- Visit the White Phial shop in Windhelm and speak to Nurelion about the phial.
- Accept his request and he hands you Nurelion’s Mixture, which you will need to reach the phial.
- The phial rests in Forsaken Cave, west of Windhelm, the tomb of the ancient alchemist Curalmil.
Walkthrough
Forsaken Cave
The first cavern may hold wolves, snow bears, ice wraiths or frost trolls, and draugr appear the deeper you go. The tunnels lead to a small chamber guarded by several draugr; two of them stand in wall alcoves and can be killed before they wake. An adept-locked door to the left of the entrance hides some basic loot. Continue northwest through a room with two leveled draugr to the door of the Forsaken Crypt. Grab the potions on the shelves beside the door before going in.
Forsaken Crypt
A single draugr patrols the first room. Head east and cross a bridge over the chamber you just came through; a draugr and a chest wait on the other side. In the room to the north, guarded by two draugr, watch the round section in the middle of the floor: stepping on it the first time lifts you towards a ceiling of spikes, and the Light Foot perk does not help. An expert-locked door to the left of the entrance leads to another chest with basic loot. The route then turns south to a covered walkway, with two draugr on the far side and two more in alcoves around the corner.
Curalmil’s burial chamber
Go through the iron door and past two swinging axe blades. As you enter the chamber, Curalmil rises from his sarcophagus along with several draugr guards. Behind the sarcophagus is a platform with a chest and a Word Wall that teaches a word of the Marked for Death shout.
A passage beneath the Word Wall leads to a basin. Activate it and fill it with Nurelion’s Mixture to open a hidden door into the room where the White Phial rests. The room is an alchemist’s treasure trove, with plenty of ingredients, several potions and the skill book A Game at Dinner. Take the phial before you leave.
To get out, use the door in the south corner of the burial chamber. Pull the lever on the wall to open a hidden door that brings you back to the first cavern of Forsaken Cave.
Return the phial
Back in Windhelm, Nurelion is even sicker than before. When he sees the phial is cracked he flies into a rage, blames you for being clumsy, and gives you a grand total of 5 gold. His apprentice Quintus Navale is far more understanding. Speak to him and he apologises for his master’s state and pays you a proper 500 gold.
Rewards
- 5 gold from Nurelion
- 500 gold from Quintus Navale
- A word of the Marked for Death shout from the Word Wall
- The ingredients, potions and skill book in the phial chamber
Tips and notes
- The story continues: once you have completed The Throat of the World (or if you already have), Quintus sends a letter by courier about the phial, which begins Repairing the Phial.
- Do not leave the dungeon without taking the phial, as it can disappear.
- Bring a lockpick or two: there are adept and expert locked side rooms on the way, though their contents are fairly basic.
