Labyrinthian is the sprawling ruin of Bromjunaar, a city the Dragon Cult once raised in a mountain pass southeast of Morthal and northeast of Drelas’ Cottage. Ancient records suggest it may even have served as the capital of the Dragon Cult. Today it is a frozen maze of crumbling walls, frost trolls and buried horrors – and the home of the Staff of Magnus. It is also the only place in Skyrim with two Word Walls, so bring warm clothes and a lot of patience.
What you’ll find
- Frost trolls roaming the exterior, with more trolls lurking inside.
- Bromjunaar Sanctuary – a raised circular mound in the centre. Beneath it lie a skeleton, the Wooden Mask and a Hired Thug’s Missive.
- Shalidor’s Maze – a labyrinth built by the Arch-Mage Shalidor to test new Archmages, solved with Alteration, Destruction, Illusion and Restoration magic. It holds skeevers, an ice wraith, the Dismay Word Wall and a dremora guarding a unique circlet.
- Lost Valkygg – a draugr-filled side dungeon with Draugr Deathlords.
- The Ceremonial Door – the way into the inner ruins, sealed until you bring the Torc of Labyrinthian. Inside wait a Skeletal Dragon, many skeletons, ice and fire doors guarded by elemental spirits, ever-stronger draugr, and finally the Tribune, lair of the Dragon Priest Morokei.
- An alchemy lab and Arcane Enchanter inside, behind a locked door.
Quests
The Staff of Magnus is the big one. Mirabelle Ervine gives you the Torc of Labyrinthian, and inside you follow the ghosts of Savos Aren‘s old expedition to stop Ancano. Savos once sealed Morokei away by binding two companions as ghostly thralls; you must destroy them to reach the priest. Labyrinthian also matters for Shalidor’s Insights from Urag gro-Shub.
Notable items
- Word Walls: Slow Time (in the Tribune) and Dismay (in Shalidor’s Maze).
- Staff of Magnus and the Morokei mask, from Morokei.
- Wooden Mask; with all eight Dragon Priest masks placed, the shrine reveals Konahrik.
- Diadem of the Savant, from the dremora in Shalidor’s Maze.
- Spell tomes: Equilibrium and Heal Other, plus one of Detect Life, Ironflesh, Waterbreathing or Telekinesis.
- Skill book Liminal Bridges (Conjuration) in the maze.
- Ancient Helmet of the Unburned behind an adept-locked gate in the Tribune, the Drainblood, Drainheart and Drainspell weapons, five dragon bones from the Skeletal Dragon, plus gold, malachite and ebony ore and ingots.
- Plenty of nightshade on every level.
Tips
You can sneak or sprint past the Skeletal Dragon and its skeletons if you would rather save your health. Pack fire and frost spells for the elemental doors. In the maze, you can use spells you already know instead of the staves. If you are level 35 or higher, an ancient dragon may show up outside – just to make sure you do not get bored.
Nearby
Closest places covered on TamrielSaga: Lost Valkygg, Skyborn Altar, Drelas’ Cottage, Shrine of Mehrunes Dagon, Hamvir’s Rest.
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.