Northwatch Keep is a half-ruined fortress on the coast due west of Solitude, and the Thalmor have turned it into a private prison. The guard at the gate will politely explain that you are not welcome and that any attempt to enter will end in violence. He means it, and there is no faction, rank or civil war allegiance that gets you past him. Most people come here to break out Thorald Gray-Mane.
What you’ll find
- A garrison of Thalmor: Northwatch Guards, Archers, Mages and an Interrogator.
- A prison block with cells. Other prisoners can be freed by picking Master locks or pulling the levers in the room, though they mostly just stand there afterwards.
- Thorald Gray-Mane, locked up in the prison – but only if you arrive after picking up the rescue quest.
- Plenty of bottles of Nord mead, which is ironic for a people who dislike Nords this much.
- In Dawnguard, the Icewater Jetty lies to the northwest of the keep (Dawnguard).
Quests
Missing in Action – Fralia and Avulstein Gray-Mane ask you to rescue Thorald. You can go alone or bring Avulstein, Geirlund and Vidrald along. With this many soldiers and mages, keeping all of your helpers alive is a real challenge.
Notable items
- One-Handed skill book 2920, Morning Star – behind the bar.
- Two-Handed skill book The Legendary Sancre Tor – in the bedroom, on a box by the table opposite the bed.
- At low levels the Thalmor here are a good source of full Elven Light Armor sets.
Tips
Getting here is half the fight. The road toward Volskygge to the south seems to dead-end; there is a narrow path down the cliff, but it is easy to miss and still makes you swim across an inlet. Following the shoreline from the east or west is the easier route, and Clairvoyance helps if you insist on the cliff path. A key can be pickpocketed from the Orc shaman Atub at Largashbur if you prefer a quieter entry. If you start a fight and back off far enough, the guards may calm down again. Werewolves get a pass from the guards outside, but Thorald will attack you in beast form, so change back before the final push to his cell.
Good to know
Once cleared, the Thalmor do not respawn, and guards across the region will congratulate you on giving them a black eye. Visit too early, before Missing in Action, and Thorald will not be in the prison at all.
Nearby
Closest places covered on TamrielSaga: Icewater Jetty, Rimerock Burrow, Steepfall Burrow, Pinefrost Tower, Lost Echo Cave.
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.
