Side Quest

Recover Hrolfdir’s Shield

Jarl Igmund of Markarth asks you to recover his father Hrolfdir’s shield from the Forsworn and hagravens – the first step toward becoming Thane of the Reach.

Jarl Igmund of Markarth wants a family heirloom back. His father Hrolfdir died trying to negotiate with the Forsworn, and the rebels carried off his shield to the hagravens they keep company with. Bringing it home is the Jarl’s personal favor – and the key that opens up a house and thaneship in the Reach. In the journal the task appears as “Find Hrolfdir’s Shield for Igmund”.

How to start

Reach at least level 20.
Speak to Jarl Igmund in Understone Keep, Markarth, and ask whether there is anything you can do for him.
Igmund must still be Jarl. If Thongvor Silver-Blood is given Markarth during Season Unending, Igmund moves to the Blue Palace in Solitude and no longer offers the quest.

Walkthrough

Find Hrolfdir’s Shield

This is a radiant quest, so the shield’s hiding place depends on your level and the game’s choice. Expect a Forsworn or hagraven stronghold; possible locations include:

Follow the quest marker to the location and fight your way in. The shield sits in a chest, typically deep inside near the hagraven. Expect Forsworn resistance and a hagraven, which hits hard with magic.

Bring the shield to Igmund

Return to Understone Keep and give the shield to the Jarl to complete the quest.

Becoming Thane of the Reach

Completing this favor makes you eligible to buy a house in Markarth, and owning that house is in turn required before Igmund can name you Thane. In short:

Recover Hrolfdir’s Shield for Igmund.
Buy the house in Markarth (Vlindrel Hall) from the Jarl’s steward Raerek.
Return to Igmund to be made Thane of the Reach.

As Thane you are assigned a housecarl, Argis the Bulwark, who serves as a follower and lives in your house, and you receive the hold’s ceremonial weapon, the Blade of the Reach. Guards in the Reach will also treat you as a Thane.

Rewards

A leveled piece of armor or a shield from Igmund.
The right to purchase a house in Markarth – the gateway to becoming Thane of the Reach.

Tips and notes

The level 20 requirement means you cannot start your Reach thaneship early; plan other holds first if you are below it.
If the Jarl does not offer the quest at all, visiting the Temple of Dibella in Markarth and returning to him has been reported to make the dialogue appear, though it does not always work.
Siding with the Stormcloaks in the Civil War can swap out Igmund; finish this quest beforehand if you want it from him.

Objectives

Find Hrolfdir’s Shield for Igmund
Bring Hrolfdir’s Shield to Igmund

Walkthrough

Choices & consequences

Known bugs & fixes

The dialogue to start the quest sometimes does not appear. On some consoles the chest may be empty or missing, blocking the thaneship and the house; on PS4 the shield location may not show on the map.

Lore notes

Hrolfdir, Igmund’s father, died trying to negotiate with the Forsworn, who gave his shield to the hagravens.

Characters in this quest

Igmund

Igmund is the Imperial-supporting Jarl of the Reach in Markarth’s Understone Keep – and the jarl least worried about dragons, thanks to his stone city.

Raerek

Raerek in Skyrim: Jarl Igmund’s uncle and steward in Markarth, who sells Vlindrel Hall and secretly worships Talos – a fact Compelling Tribute exploits.

Thongvor Silver-Blood

Thongvor Silver-Blood in Skyrim: head of Markarth’s Silver-Blood family, a Talos-loving Stormcloak backer who becomes Jarl if the Stormcloaks win.

Creatures you will meet

Hagraven

Hagravens are half-woman, half-bird witches allied with the Forsworn of the Reach. Where to find them and how to deal with their fire magic.

Factions

Quest rewards

Sources checked: Fandom Elder Scrolls wiki (quest article), Skyrim game files