Orphan Rock is a tall pillar of natural stone just north of the road linking Helgen and Ivarstead. From Helgen, take a path on the left before the Falkreath Stormcloak Camp; from Riverwood, a path heads south from behind Gerdur and Hod’s house. Visit early and it’s just a lonely rock with some nightshade. Visit during the right quest and it’s a coven’s front yard.
What you’ll find
- A hagraven and several witches and hags serving her – only once The Blessings of Nature is underway.
- A fallen tree serving as a bridge to the top of the rock (it also appears only with the quest).
- An Arcane Enchanter, tents, and grim decorations: a spriggan body on a brazier and two spriggan heads on sticks by the bridge.
- Bear traps and several Frost Runes around the camp.
Quests
The Blessings of Nature – to cut through the roots around the Eldergleam in Eldergleam Sanctuary, Danica Pure-Spring sends you here for Nettlebane, the only blade that can do it.
Notable items
- Nettlebane (quest item, carried here by the coven).
- A skeleton in the base of the big fallen tree to the south wears a leveled helmet and has a coin purse – you may need to drag the bones a bit.
- Two rubies sometimes hang in mid-air just east of the Arcane Enchanter.
Tips
Watch your feet: between the bear traps and the frost runes, the approach is a minefield. Take it slowly, look where you step, and don’t let the witches chase you across their own runes.
Good to know
You can discover and fast travel to Orphan Rock before the quest; it’s just empty. The floating rubies may have been meant for the eye sockets of the animal skull above a nearby tent.
Nearby
Closest places covered on TamrielSaga: Falkreath Stormcloak Camp, North Skybound Watch, South Skybound Watch, Helgen, Haemar’s Shame.
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.