Bloodskal Barrow is an ancient Nordic tomb on Solstheim, added with the Dragonborn expansion, sitting due north of Raven Rock. It is tied directly to Raven Rock Mine, whose miners once dug straight into it. If you want a dragon priest, a Black Book and a Word Wall in one trip, this is the place.
What you’ll find
- Draugr and reavers – draugr haunt the tomb, while reavers have set up camp in the outer section, complete with a cooking area and a campfire surrounded by dead draugr.
- Zahkriisos – one of the four dragon priests on Solstheim rests here. He shows up when you approach the chest in his chamber.
- Crafting stations – an alchemy lab and an arcane enchanter.
- Stalhrim – a deposit that can only be mined with an Ancient Nordic Pickaxe.
- Hidden walls – a pull chain next to a rock wall opens the way between the dragon priest area and the reaver section.
Quests
The barrow is the climax of The Final Descent, where you follow the trail of the miner Gratian Caerellius. It can also be the target of several Dawnguard radiant quests (Preemptive Strike, Protecting the Bloodline, Ancient Technology and Rescue). If An Axe to Find from Glover Mallory is active, you can make Crescius hand over his pickaxe for the stalhrim here.
Notable items
- Bloodskal Blade – unique two-handed sword
- Zahkriisos – the dragon priest mask
- Black Book: The Winds of Change
- Word Wall: Dragon Aspect
- Scrawled Note
- An Ancient Nordic Pickaxe in a chest inside the mine
Tips
Bring a pickaxe that can handle stalhrim, or you’ll stare at that deposit like a kid at a locked candy shop. The chest in the dragon priest’s room is bait – walking up to it summons Zahkriisos, so buff up before you take the step. Outside, a tower to the south holds a hooded red Dunmer outfit, a fork, a knife and two bottles of sujamma, and a little further south there’s a Shrine of Kynareth with a respawning albino spider pod nearby.
Good to know
The barrow belonged to the Bloodskal Clan. Gratian found the Bloodskal Blade while exploring it, was mortally wounded by draugr and never left; two centuries later his descendant Crescius came looking for answers. The Word Wall here looks like it was painted in blood rather than carved – a nice touch of extra creepiness.
Nearby
Closest places on Solstheim covered on TamrielSaga: Damphall Mine, Hvitkald Peak, Abandoned Lodge, Raven Rock, Earth Stone.
Map position and editor ID read from the Dragonborn game files; details checked against community wiki articles and summarised in our own words.
