Forelhost is an ancient Nordic stronghold-tomb on the mountain directly southeast of Riften. After the Dragon War, the surviving Dragon Cult fled here to regroup, and the place still remembers it: ghostly cultists, leveled draugr and the dragon priest Rahgot wait inside. Expect one of the more atmospheric dungeons in the region, with some of the best loot to match.
What you’ll find
- Captain Valmir camped outside, an Altmer who says he serves whichever Civil War side you favour (if you haven’t picked, his armour follows whether you fled Helgen with Ralof or Hadvar).
- Ghost dragon cultists, draugr and Rahgot himself near the end.
- Sublocations: Forelhost Refectory, Forelhost Crypt and Forelhost Battlements.
- Alchemy labs, arcane enchanter, forge, anvil, grindstone and workbench.
- Gold and quicksilver veins in the room with the dead spider; iron and silver ore in the workbench room.
- A Word Wall for a word of Storm Call on the battlements outside.
- Lots of ingredients, from Deathbell and Fire Salts to Ectoplasm and Falmer Ears.
Quests
- Siege on the Dragon Cult – Valmir asks you to fetch Rahgot’s mask. An optional objective involves Skorm Snow-Strider’s Journal.
- Alteration Ritual Spell – with Alteration at 90+, Tolfdir may send you here for Kahvozein’s Fang.
Notable items
- The dragon priest mask Rahgot and a Dragon Priest Staff of Wall of Fire.
- The Exodus (Restoration skill book).
- Lore notes: Forelhost notes 1 and 2, Orders, Alchemist’s Note and Rahgot’s Reply.
- Full sets of ancient Nord armour from fallen cultists, rare dragon priest daggers from the mages, and roughly a hundred ancient Nord arrows per archer.
Tips
The scenic approach: go east from Riften, cross a small stone bridge, take the track south past the side path to Broken Helm Hollow and follow it to an abandoned bandit tower. Its bridge leads to Forelhost and skips the flame traps; an expert-locked chest hides behind rubble in the tower. You can also reach the Word Wall without clearing the dungeon by climbing the arch or jumping up the wall to the right of the approach – no Whirlwind Sprint needed. If you skipped the Companions, this is one of the few places to collect ancient Nord armour.
Good to know
Unlike most dragon priest tombs, Forelhost restocks most of its enemies later; Rahgot is replaced by a generic dragon priest, and the cultists don’t return.
Nearby
Closest places covered on TamrielSaga: Broken Helm Hollow, Nightingale Hall, Stendarr’s Beacon, The Shadow Stone, Lost Tongue Overlook.
Location data (hold, map position, editor ID) read from the Skyrim game files; details checked against community wiki articles and summarised in our own words.