Hunting the Monster is a radiant Dawnguard quest given by Gunmar at Fort Dawnguard, and it repeats as many times as you like. A Master Vampire has gone to ground, and the only lead is a person in one of Skyrim’s towns who has been in contact with it. Part detective work, part dungeon crawl, and it always ends with a very dead vampire.
How to start
- Be a member of the Dawnguard and not a vampire.
- Complete A New Order.
- Ask Gunmar for work.
Walkthrough
1. Find the contact
Gunmar sends you to a town where the vampire’s last known contact lives; the quest marker shows you who it is. Talk to them and pry the information out of them, or search for evidence. Either way you end up with a Letter from the Vampire that reveals where the creature is hiding.
2. Kill the Master Vampire
Head to the named dungeon and destroy the Master Vampire. Bring the usual anti-vampire kit: fire, healing and something to deal with its thralls.
3. Return to Gunmar
Report back to Gunmar for a leveled reward, then ask again if you want another round.
Possible contacts
- Falkreath: Bolund, Narri, Nenya, Siddgeir.
- Dawnstar: Fruki, Leigelf, Seren.
- Markarth: Endon, Hamal (only once The Heart of Dibella has started), Imedhnain, Lisbet.
- Riften: Aerin, Haelga, Harrald, Sibbi Black-Briar, Ungrien.
- Solitude: Fihada, Rorlund, Silana Petreia, Vivienne Onis.
- Whiterun: Acolyte Jenssen, Ahlam, Amren, Arcadia, Belethor, Carlotta Valentia, Danica Pure-Spring, Elrindir, Heimskr, Jon Battle-Born, Nazeem, Olfina Gray-Mane.
- Windhelm: Aval Atheron, Brunwulf Free-Winter, Orthus Endario, Susanna the Wicked (until Blood on the Ice starts), Ulundil.
- Winterhold: Birna, Kraldar.
- Raven Rock (Dragonborn): Aphia Velothi.
Possible lairs
Ansilvund, Bilegulch Mine, Boulderfall Cave, Brittleshin Pass, Broken Helm Hollow, Cracked Tusk Keep, Embershard Mine, Fort Fellhammer, Gallows Rock, Greywater Gorge, Halted Stream Camp, Hob’s Fall Cave, Morvunskar, Orotheim, Silent Moons Camp, Stony Creek Cave, Sunderstone Gorge, Redoran’s Retreat, Uttering Hills Cave and Valtheim Keep. Rift Watchtower is listed but unconfirmed. With Dragonborn installed, Bloodskal Barrow, Damphall Mine and Hrodulf’s House on Solstheim are possible too.
Rewards
- A leveled reward from Gunmar.
Tips and notes
- If the lair is Gallows Rock, the Silver Hand living there may attack the vampire and could kill it before you do.
- A contact who has died or left their post can make the quest impossible: Siddgeir after the Stormcloaks take Falkreath, or Susanna the Wicked after her death, are named examples. Keep a save from before you accept the job.
- The vampire is sometimes missing from its marked spot; reloading an earlier save is the suggested fix.
- Gunmar’s other bounty, Preemptive Strike, skips the detective part and sends you straight to the lair.
