The Boneman is one of the restless dead you will run into in the Soul Cairn, the grim plane visited during the Dawnguard storyline. At a glance it looks like an ordinary skeleton, but its bones are much darker and its empty eye sockets burn with a white glow. Bonemen roam the Cairn alongside its other spectral residents, such as the Mistman and the Wrathman.
The in-game Book of Life and Service praises them as servants who serve without any self, in spirit, for eternity, which suits their mindless, relentless behaviour. Their level ranges from 1 to 30, so they keep pace with the Dragonborn rather than staying trivial.
Variants
| Type | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Boneman warrior | Usually carries ancient Nord weapons |
| Boneman archer | Any type of bow and arrows; quality depends on the Dragonborn’s level |
Where to find them
Bonemen appear only in the Soul Cairn. You reach it during Dawnguard’s main questline, in Beyond Death, when Serana goes looking for her mother Valerica. Expect to meet them repeatedly while crossing the realm, often mixed in with Mistmen, Wrathmen and the realm’s other dead. Because their level scales from 1 to 30, a late visit to the Cairn brings tougher Bonemen with better bows.
Notes
- The archer form can be called to your side with Conjure Boneman, a spell tome found within the Soul Cairn itself.
- A Boneman has a petty soul. You can trap it with Soul Trap and recover a filled soul gem afterwards, and their remains often contain soul gems of petty to common size.
