Ralis Sedarys is a Dark Elf treasure hunter from Mournhold who turns up on Solstheim (Dragonborn) with a plan, a dig site and no money. A financier back on the mainland has sent him to recover the Relics of Ahzidal, the enchanted gear buried with the first great Nord enchanter. Unfortunately the barrow is buried under ash, digging isn’t his specialty, and he only gets paid on delivery. That’s where you and your coin purse come in.
Where to find them
You first meet him outside Kolbjorn Barrow, cursing his luck. If he survives his quest, he moves to The Retching Netch in Raven Rock.
Quests
Talking to Ralis starts Unearthed, a slow excavation project bankrolled entirely by you. Between stages a courier brings letters calling you back to the site, and each visit comes with a new bill:
- 1,000 gold to round up diggers from Raven Rock.
- 2,000 gold to hire replacements after the draugr wake up and kill the first crew.
- 3,000 and finally 5,000 gold for more workers and, later, mercenaries.
That adds up to 11,000 gold before the job is done, which is why he is often called the most expensive follower in the game. Ralis is essential until the quest ends, and at the finale you decide whether to kill him or spare him.
Follower & marriage
Spare him, then find him at The Retching Netch and ask him to join you. He’s equally comfortable at range and up close. In melee he likes to dual-wield his unique enchanted pickaxe Hoarfrost alongside a second pick, and he appears to have the dual-wield power attack perks, so expect flurries of heavy swings. At range he uses an ordinary bow and still hits hard. Hand him Ahzidal’s Ring of Arcana and he’ll throw Ignite and Freeze spells as well. He can also be recruited into the Blades via Rebuilding the Blades.
Personality & relationships
Ralis is gruff, money-minded and short on patience for time-wasters; he’s had his fill of visitors mocking his dig. He’s the only follower who calls you ‘boss’. When you mention who sent you, he immediately suspects Geldis Sadri. He treats dead mercenaries with grim humour, hums to himself when idle, and his dialogue nods to several Daedric Princes, including Sheogorath, Boethiah and Azura. Oddly, once the dig is under way he seems to forget all about his patron in Mournhold.
Good to know
If you choose to kill him, he cries out that he has ‘his will’ on his side. Together with his journals, that suggests he either fell under Ahzidal’s control or played a bigger part in the miners’ deaths than he lets on. Spared, though, he serves loyally and never tries anything. He is voiced by Dan Donohue, who also voices Teldryn Sero.
Details checked against community wiki articles and the Skyrim/DLC game files, written in our own words.
