Cidhna Mine is a prison carved into the rock of Markarth, run by the Silver-Blood family, who put the inmates to work digging silver. It’s considered the most secure jail in Skyrim and is home to Madanach, the King in Rags who leads the Forsworn. Most people end up here by accident – usually by poking into the wrong conspiracy.
What you’ll find
- Prisoners including Madanach, Urzoga gra-Shugurz, Borkul the Beast, Uraccen, Grisvar the Unlucky, Braig, Odvan and Duach.
- Five silver ore veins – which mysteriously produce nothing during the main quest, no matter how long you swing.
- Shivs and a lot of people willing to use them.
Quests
During The Forsworn Conspiracy, started by Eltrys, you either get framed for murder or walk in on purpose. The trail involves Imperial agent Margret, the Forsworn operative Weylin and Thonar Silver-Blood, whose secret pact with Madanach is the real story. It continues straight into No One Escapes Cidhna Mine, where you have to find a way out.
Notable items
- Proper Lock Design – a Lockpicking skill book in the regular part of the mine.
- Four Shivs, unique daggers.
Tips
- You arrive with nothing, so pick fights carefully: attack anyone with a shiv, pickaxe or spell and everyone nearby piles in, often with magic.
- Sneaking or Invisibility helps you pick people off one at a time.
- Werewolves and Vampire Lords can transform in here, which makes escape (or settling scores) much easier.
- Once the quests are done, accepting jail time in Markarth sends you back here; mine an ore vein with a pickaxe to serve your sentence.
Good to know
Eisa Blackthorn once got a full year in this place, according to her journal. Down the hill from the entrance, near the silver forges, a dead Breton hangs in a cage over the water with no explanation – Markarth’s idea of a welcome sign. The Silver-Blood Inn nearby is owned by the same family, so watch what you say over your mead.
Details checked against community wiki articles and the Skyrim game files, summarised in our own words.
