The Underforge is the secret chamber hidden beneath the Skyforge in Whiterun, right above Jorrvaskr. This is where the Circle of the Companions gathers for its rituals – the kind that tend to involve fur, fangs and a surprising amount of blood. You come here as part of the Companions questline, and later as a member of the Circle with a very particular hobby.
What you’ll find
- A ritual space used by the Circle, entered from below the Skyforge.
- After you join the Circle and become a werewolf, every werewolf totem you recover ends up displayed here.
- A back exit that doubles as an escape route out of Whiterun, leading to a broken-down, empty old tower outside the walls.
Quests
- The Silver Hand
- Glory of the Dead
- Totems of Hircine
All three tie into the Circle’s story: the first two pull you deeper into the Companions’ bloodier traditions, while the totem hunt only opens up once you carry the beast blood yourself.
Tips
Followers can’t tag along unless they are Circle members themselves – even companions like Serana (Dawnguard) will be left waiting at the door, so don’t count on backup here. Think twice before curing your lycanthropy: doing so locks you out of the Underforge and of Totems of Hircine. And if you reach the outside exit by unusual means, such as scaling the rocks with a horse or using Klimmek’s Supplies, the entry prompt reportedly may not show up at all. According to players, the door can also stubbornly refuse entry after the Companions questline wraps up, so finish what you need first.
Good to know
The ruined tower at the exit is believed to be an old Whiterun watchtower destroyed long ago. Its main job now seems to be giving werewolves a discreet way to stroll out of town without the guards asking awkward questions about all that howling.
Details checked against community wiki articles and the Skyrim game files, summarised in our own words.
