Sinding is a Nord drifter locked up in the jail of Falkreath. He came to town looking for work at the lumber mill, and while there, in the grip of a werewolf transformation he couldn’t control, he killed Lavinia, the young daughter of Mathies and Indara Caerellia. He is the central figure of the Daedric quest Ill Met by Moonlight.
Where to find them
At first, in his cell in the Falkreath jail. Once the quest gets going he escapes and holes up in Bloated Man’s Grotto.
Quests
Ill Met by Moonlight – Sinding tells you the killing was never his intention. He’s a werewolf, and he stole the Ring of Hircine because it was said to let its wearer control the change. Hircine, the Daedric Prince of the Hunt, cursed the ring in return, and the transformations started hitting him at random – including the moment he was near the girl. He had tracked a great beast into the woods, hoping that slaying it would let him beg Hircine’s forgiveness. Offer to take over and he gives you the ring. Walk away from his cell and glance back to see him burst free.
In the grotto you have to choose. Kill and skin Sinding and Hircine rewards you with the Savior’s Hide and lets you get rid of the ring. Spare him instead and fight the hunters with him, and Hircine fixes the ring so werewolves can use it freely. Both items are among the Daedric artifacts. If you spare him, he says he’ll stay in the grotto, far from anyone he might hurt.
Personality & relationships
Sinding is full of shame and self-loathing about the killing, yet he also describes the hunger that took over in vivid, uncomfortable detail. If spared, he promises to be a powerful ally and to never return to civilised life – a promise the beast in him doesn’t always keep.
Good to know
- Spared or not, a hostile werewolf Sinding can show up later in random encounters, for example fighting hold guards or bandits; he may also be found friendly in the grotto.
- Falkreath guards will occasionally hint that they know you had something to do with his escape.
- His beast form is noticeably bigger than yours.
Quick facts
- Gender: Male
- Level: 1
- Class: Warrior
- Status: Protected
- Found in: Falkreath
- Base ID: 0006C1B7
Also in Falkreath
Solaf, Tekla, Thadgeir, Valga Vinicia, Zaria, Bolund, Delacourt, Dengeir of Stuhn, Helvard, Indara Caerellia, Kust, Lod.
Race, level, class and factions read from the Skyrim game files; story details checked against community wiki articles and written in our own words.