The Chief of Thirsk Hall is a Dragonborn side quest on Solstheim and one of two rival storylines at Thirsk Mead Hall. A tribe of Rieklings has seized the Nords’ hall, and their chief has somehow learned to talk. He has chores for a strong outsider, and his notion of gratitude turns out to be a duel.
How to start
- Walk up to the entrance of Thirsk Mead Hall. A Riekling greets you and waves you inside.
- Talk to the Riekling Chief on his throne. Ask what is going on and how he learned to speak, and he will ask for your help.
- The quest fails if you side with the Nords in Retaking Thirsk.
Walkthrough
Give Bilgemuck some meat
The chief’s prize beast, Bilgemuck, ran off after some foolish tribe members chased him. Bilgemuck is a unique Bristleback and loves meat. Find him, offer him meat (horker meat works) and he will start following you.
Return Bilgemuck to Thirsk
Lead Bilgemuck back to the small pen beside the mead hall, then talk to the chief again.
Bring 10 Scathecraw to the Chief
Next he wants ten Scathecraw, which he calls “redgrass”. It grows all over Solstheim and alchemists sell it. The area around Raven Rock is especially rich in it.
Join the assault and kill the Nords
The final request is to wipe out a group of Nords camping nearby. If you have already visited Bujold’s Retreat, you will know these are the hall’s former residents, driven out by the Rieklings. This is the point of no return:
- Agree, and the chief leaps off his throne, gathers three warriors outside and delivers a rousing speech in the Riekling tongue (nobody knows what it means) before charging the camp. Seven Nords must die; they turn hostile as soon as you approach.
- Hesitate, and the chief waits inside for you. That leaves room to speak with Bujold instead and help the Nords. Doing so fails this quest and opens Retaking Thirsk.
Speak to the Chief and defeat him
With the Nords dead, the chief decides you are too strong and must want his throne, just as he once took it from the chief before him. Whether you protest or admit you want to be chief, he attacks. Kill him, and the tribe accepts you as their new chief.
Choices and consequences
Thirsk can only go to one side. Helping the Rieklings fails Retaking Thirsk and locks you out of Hilund’s Spears; siding with Bujold’s Nords fails this quest.
Rewards
- Any Riekling of the Thirsk tribe can be recruited as a follower. They count as animal companions, like dogs, so one can travel with you alongside a regular follower.
- Riekling followers can be given a bow and arrows, a helmet, armor, gauntlets and boots, although armor does not change their appearance. Most will not use melee weapons or torches, while ordinary Rieklings and Riekling warriors will take greatswords and giant clubs.
- One to three Riekling scouts, hunters or warriors from the tribe may randomly turn up to help you in combat, both on Solstheim and in Skyrim.
Tips and notes
- During the attack on the camp, Bujold the Unworthy is renamed Bujold the Intrepid.
- Keep some raw meat in your pack before starting, so Bilgemuck can be won over on the spot.
- Scathecraw is common enough that you may already carry ten if you pick ingredients as you travel.
