Brother Verulus is an Imperial priest of Arkay who looks after the Hall of the Dead in Markarth. He’s patient with newcomers, happy to explain Nord burial customs and the god of birth and death – and about to have a very bad week.
Where to find them
In Understone Keep outside the Hall of the Dead, usually arguing with Thongvor Silver-Blood. If the Stormcloaks take the city and Thongvor becomes Jarl, the argument stops and Verulus simply stands near the Hall’s entrance.
Quests
The Taste of Death – the Hall of the Dead has been sealed, and at first Verulus won’t say why. Persuade or bribe him and he admits that corpses inside have been found partly eaten, and he lets you investigate. Inside you meet Eola, who either attacks you or invites you into the Daedric quest depending on what you say.
If you accept, your task is to lure Verulus to Reachcliff Cave. Once there, Eola somehow lulls him onto the altar, and the coven expects you to kill him and eat. Do it and Namira rewards you with the Ring of Namira. Or change your mind at the last second and kill Eola instead: the quest fails, Verulus jumps off the altar to help you fight the cultists, and afterwards pays you a leveled sum of gold for saving his life.
Personality & relationships
Verulus is gentle and a little weary. He reminds people that gold doesn’t follow you into death and that there’s no need to hurry into Arkay’s arms. On the walk to the cave he grows dreamy and hungry, calling you his friend – a deeply uncomfortable thing to hear given where you’re taking him. Survive with him and he decides he’s done with trips outside the city walls.
Good to know
- While he’s following you during the quest he can be commanded like a follower, handed gear and kept around indefinitely – and he can’t die until he reaches the cave. If you never bring him to the altar, he stays a permanent extra companion.
- Kill him after rescuing him and a courier later brings a letter from Jarl Igmund saying Verulus left you an inheritance.
- He is essential until The Taste of Death.
Quick facts
- Race: Imperial
- Gender: Male
- Level: 6
- Class: Priest
- Status: Essential
- Found in: Markarth
- Base ID: 0001338C
Also in Markarth
Cairine, Cedran, Cosnach, Degaine, Donnel, Dryston, Duach, Eltrys, Endon, Eola, Faleen, Frabbi.
Race, level, class and factions read from the Skyrim game files; story details checked against community wiki articles and written in our own words.