Falk Firebeard is the Nord steward and chief advisor of Jarl Elisif the Fair in Solitude. With the young Jarl still grieving High King Torygg, she leaves much of the day-to-day running of the court to him, which makes Falk arguably the most powerful man in the Blue Palace – even Erikur’s sister says so. The ‘Firebeard’ most likely refers to the colour of his facial hair.
Where to find them
Inside the Blue Palace, in the Jarl’s court, where he handles visitors and petitions. He is essential, so he can’t be killed.
Quests
The Man Who Cried Wolf – Varnius Junius of Dragon Bridge has been reporting strange lights and missing travellers near Wolfskull Cave. Falk thinks it is probably bandits or animals and was ready to ignore it, but will pay you to clear the place out. Inside you find necromancers trying to summon the spirit of Potema, the long-dead Wolf Queen of Solitude, alongside draugr.
The Wolf Queen Awakened – a while later a courier brings a letter from Falk: breaking the ritual let Potema’s spirit slip loose. He sends you to Styrr, the city’s priest of Arkay, who believes you have some link to her, and the trail leads into the catacombs beneath Solitude. When it is done, Falk admits he should have listened to Varnius, pays you quietly (the Jarl wants Potema’s return hushed up) and names you a protector of the city.
Services
As steward he sells Proudspire Manor, Solitude’s player home, for 25,000 gold along with all its furnishings and upgrades, once you have earned the Jarl’s favour.
Personality & relationships
Falk is loyal, practical and fiercely protective of Elisif’s legitimacy. Ask whether General Tullius respects her and he bristles, blaming loose talk among the Thanes on Erikur. He spends a lot of court time gently steering the Jarl away from rash ideas – a victory parade during wartime, or sending a whole legion to check on a spooky cave. He clashes openly with Erikur over shipping taxes and suspected dealings with the Red Wave, and trades barbs with court wizard Sybille Stentor over her expensive reagents.
His big secret is a relationship with Thane Bryling. They meet away from court, and he promises that once the war is over he will step down as steward so they can stop sneaking around.
After the civil war he has thoughts either way: under an Imperial win he hopes the other Jarls will back Elisif as High Queen; if Ulfric Stormcloak wins, he grudgingly calls sparing Elisif a clever political move.
Good to know
- During The Man Who Cried Wolf you can pickpocket a letter from him describing the ritual you have not yet seen – but doing so can break the follow-up quest.
- The two quests are a good companion to the books Biography of the Wolf Queen and The Wolf Queen, v1.
Also in Solitude
IlldiIInge Six FingersQuest GiverIIrnskar IronhandHousecarlJJalaMerchantRace, level, class and factions read from the Skyrim game files; story details checked against community wiki articles and written in our own words.
