Reeking Cave lies beneath the Thalmor Embassy in Haafingar, linked to it by a trapdoor with a surprisingly long drop. It’s home to a frost troll and the final resting place of an unlucky mage. Most players first land here mid-escape, so you’ll probably arrive in a hurry.
What you’ll find
- A frost troll living in the cave.
- A dead conjurer who may carry a leveled spell tome or a staff.
- An outside entrance: a dark arch between a rock and a large tree, northwest of the embassy, reached by heading downhill to the road and following it north.
Quests
- Diplomatic Immunity: your escape route out of the embassy.
- No Stone Unturned: one of the Stones of Barenziah is here.
Notable items
- Before the Ages of Man (Illusion skill book).
- Stone of Barenziah, unless you already took the one inside the embassy.
- Leveled spell tome or staff on the conjurer.
Tips
The troll is waiting right after the trapdoor, so heal up and have a fire spell ready before you jump. The Stone of Barenziah appears even if you haven’t done the embassy quest yet, so you can sneak in through the outside entrance and collect it early.
Details checked against community wiki articles and the Skyrim game files, summarised in our own words.
