Mara’s Eye Pond is a small clearing with a pond and a little islet in the middle, a short walk east of Gallows Rock and southwest of Morvunskar. It looks like a peaceful fishing spot – until you notice the half-sunk boat, the lantern and the blood trail leading to a trapdoor on the island. Down there is Mara’s Eye Den, and its residents are not here for the scenery.
What you’ll find
- Mudcrabs scuttling around the shore and the islet, and a few spriggans in the surrounding area.
- A waterlogged boat with a sack, a box and an oar – a hint that smugglers used this spot.
- Odd noises around the island and a pond with a surprisingly strong northward current, despite not being connected to any river.
- Mara’s Eye Den below the trapdoor: two leveled vampire mages and a smuggler, hiding out and feeding on their victims.
- Inside the den, an executioner’s block with a woodcutter’s axe, and a pool below the living area with two cages – one holding the body of a Vigilant of Stendarr.
- Two chests (only one locked) and a bird sculpture holding a coin purse in its beak.
Notable items
- Guide to Better Thieving (Pickpocket skill book) on a pile of crates with other books and a soul gem.
- The Smuggler’s Journal on a table by the entrance, which explains the vampires and the grim butcher’s setup.
- A copy of Brief History of the Empire, Book I.
- A clay deposit by the water’s edge west of the islet (Hearthfire).
Tips
Clear the mudcrabs first – they’re harmless but annoying while you’re trying to swim out to the island. Vampire mages hit hard with magic, so bring a fire-heavy loadout or potions, and consider a quick sneak attack the moment you drop through the trapdoor. Only one of the two cages needs picking; the other opens freely.
Watch your footing near the crates with the skill book: it’s possible to get wedged between a pillar and the crates there, so save before grabbing the loot.
Good to know
The smuggler’s journal turns a random pond into a nasty little horror story. It’s a good example of Skyrim rewarding curiosity: follow the blood, find the trapdoor, regret everything.
Nearby
Closest places covered on TamrielSaga: Gallows Rock, Uttering Hills Cave, Riverside Shack, Morvunskar, Mixwater Mill.
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.