Kolbjorn Barrow is an ancient Nordic tomb on Solstheim, added with the Dragonborn expansion. It stands directly between Raven Rock and Hrodulf’s House in the ash wastes, and it is the resting place of the Dragon Priest Ahzidal. The catch: the whole tomb was choked with ash and rubble when Red Mountain erupted in 4E 5, so you will be paying to dig it out.
What you’ll find
- Ralis Sedarys, an eager excavator who needs funding to clear the barrow.
- An excavation completed in four stages, each opening a deeper part of the tomb.
- Draugr waiting in the cleared sections.
- Ahzidal himself at the bottom.
- A Word Wall for Cyclone – buried under ash and only reachable after the final excavation.
Quests
Unearthed – investigate the barrow, talk to Ralis Sedarys and bankroll his dig. You can pick up the trail by reading Ahzidal’s Descent, found on a table in Neloth‘s chambers at Tel Mithryn or in Highpoint Tower.
Notable items
- Ahzidal – the Dragon Priest mask.
- Ahzidal’s Armor of Retribution, Boots of Waterwalking, Gauntlets of Warding and Helm of Vision.
- Ahzidal’s Ring of Arcana and Ring of Necromancy.
- Black Book: Filament and Filigree, a gateway to Apocrypha.
- Word Wall: Cyclone.
Tips
Start saving early. The dig costs 1,000 gold at first, then 2,000, 3,000 and finally 5,000 – 11,000 gold in total, which makes this the only tomb in the game you basically have to buy your way through. Since the payments are spread out, you can explore each newly opened section between installments. Prepare properly for the final stage: Ahzidal is a Dragon Priest and fights like one, and his gear is the reward for doing the job right. Archaeology has never been so expensive – or so well armoured. Ahzidal’s Descent is worth reading even if you stumble on the barrow first, since it frames who you are about to dig up.
Good to know
The Cyclone Word Wall sits in plain sight of the dig but stays sealed under ash until Ralis finishes the last stage, so you cannot shortcut your way to it. The Black Book waiting in the depths, Filament and Filigree, is one more doorway into Hermaeus Mora’s realm, so the barrow pays off long after Ahzidal is dust.
Nearby
Closest places on Solstheim covered on TamrielSaga: Old Attius Farm, Hrodulf’s House, Raven Rock, Fort Frostmoth, Wreck of the Strident Squall.
Map position and editor ID read from the Dragonborn game files; details checked against community wiki articles and summarised in our own words.
