Ondolemar is an Altmer – a High Elf – and the Thalmor’s man in Markarth. He leads the Thalmor Justiciars in Skyrim and has been sent to the city to push the Dominion’s interests and stamp out the worship of Talos. Modesty is not one of his talents: his idea of a greeting is telling you to enjoy the honor of speaking to him.
Where to find them
He paces near the Jarl’s throne in Understone Keep, flanked by two Thalmor soldiers. He also attends Ambassador Elenwen‘s reception at the Thalmor Embassy.
Quests
Search and Seizure: Ondolemar is certain that the respected old skald Ogmund worships Talos at home, but Jarl Igmund won’t order an arrest without evidence. He asks you to break into Ogmund’s house and find it. Hand over the Amulet of Talos and you get a leveled gold reward plus his friendship, which pays off later.
Diplomatic Immunity: at the embassy party he can create a distraction for you – but only if you’ve helped him before and can convince him (with a Speech check around 50) that it’s just a harmless joke. He then loudly accuses the guest Razelan of insulting the Thalmor.
Personality & relationships
Ondolemar believes Mer are simply better than Men, holds the Empire in open contempt and insists Talos was just a man who has no place among the Divines. He expects to purge the heresy despite the Nords’ stubbornness, and treats the civil war as a silly squabble over a false god.
Good to know
- If you’ve been killing Justiciars before meeting him, he may attack on sight, and the guards won’t necessarily step in.
- Unlike other Thalmor, he also uses frost magic on top of the usual fire and shock.
- Finish his quest and he may later leave you a small inheritance if he dies.
- Hand Markarth to the Stormcloaks (by conquest or in Season Unending) and he vanishes. A coffin in the city’s Hall of the Dead then holds hooded Thalmor robes – and Ogmund’s amulet, if you stole it for him – hinting that he didn’t survive the takeover.
Quick facts
- Race: High Elf
- Gender: Male
- Level: levels with you (x1)
- Class: Destruction Mage
- Status: Killable
- Found in: Markarth
- Base ID: 000133AF
Also in Markarth
Orla, Raerek, Reburrus Quintilius, Rhiada, Rondach, Scheming Servant, Senna, Tacitus Sallustius, Thonar Silver-Blood, Thongvor Silver-Blood, Tynan, Uaile.
Race, level, class and factions read from the Skyrim game files; story details checked against community wiki articles and written in our own words.