Jorrvaskr is the legendary mead hall of The Companions, perched in the Wind District of Whiterun. Local legend calls it the oldest building in the city – it supposedly stood alone on the hill before the town grew up around it. Walk in, and you’re more or less announcing that you’re a warrior. Expect fistfights, mead and a lot of shouting about honour.
What you’ll find
- The great hall – a long fire pit, tables of food, a sparring corner and the shards of Wuuthrad, Ysgramor’s axe, mounted on the wall.
- Living quarters – down the stairs at the south end, with a shared room for new recruits and the Harbinger’s quarters, originally belonging to Kodlak Whitemane.
- The Companions – Aela the Huntress, Athis, Brill, Farkas, Njada Stonearm, Ria, Skjor, Torvar, Vignar Gray-Mane and Vilkas.
- Back yard – an outdoor training and dining area. The Skyforge, where Eorlund Gray-Mane works, is carved into the rock behind the hall, and below it lies The Underforge.
Quests
The whole Companions questline runs through here, from Take Up Arms to Glory of the Dead. Your very first visit opens with Njada and Athis brawling while everyone cheers – Njada tends to win.
Notable items
- The Marksmanship Lesson (Archery) and an Elven Bow in an expert-locked case in Aela’s room.
- The Song of Hrormir (Two-Handed) on the map table in the living quarters.
- Hallgerd’s Tale (Heavy Armor) in the main hall.
- An Unusual Gem in Kodlak’s room, needed for No Stone Unturned.
- A respawning Daedra heart on a plate in Kodlak’s room.
- An Explorer’s Guide to Skyrim in the living quarters, which adds locations to your map.
Tips
Don’t pocket Kodlak’s gem early: getting caught is a crime and the Companions will chase you for 500 gold. Once you become Harbinger, most items lose the stolen tag and it’s yours for free. After Take Up Arms, the dresser in your quarters is safe storage; the chest and barrel in Kodlak’s room are not, as they can reset. The expert-locked display cases in the master bedroom reset too, making them handy early Lockpicking practice.
Good to know
The hall’s roof looks like an upturned hull for a reason: Jorrvaskr was built from the ship that carried part of Ysgramor’s Five Hundred Companions from Atmora. And since the Circle are all werewolves, you can transform indoors here without the guards caring.
Details checked against community wiki articles and the Skyrim game files, summarised in our own words.
