Understone Keep is the seat of power in Markarth, a colossal Dwarven structure perched at the top of the city and carved into the ruins of the ancient Dwemer city of Nchuand-Zel. Jarl Igmund rules from the Mournful Throne here, surrounded by guards, Thalmor soldiers and humming Dwemer machinery. You’ll come for the jarl’s business, the crafting stations, and sooner or later for Calcelmo’s jealously guarded secrets.
What you’ll find
- The throne room – a huge hall of stone and fire. On your very first visit, Thongvor Silver-Blood is busy arguing with Brother Verulus about Talos worship. Left leads to the Nchuand-Zel excavation, right to the Dwemer Museum.
- The court – steward Raerek and housecarl Faleen usually hover near the jarl, while the Thalmor’s Ondolemar paces the upper stairs with his escort.
- Kitchens – south of the throne, staffed by Voada, Rondach and the grumpy Anton Virane. Lots of food, two big but friendly hounds.
- Understone Forge – north of the throne room, run by Moth gro-Bagol, whose sister Ghorza works the forge outside. Forge, grindstone, tanning rack and workbench.
- Wizard’s quarters – court wizard Calcelmo and his nephew Aicantar lead the dig into Nchuand-Zel. Beyond the museum lie Calcelmo’s Laboratory, a balcony with a great view and his tower holding a stone slab inscribed in both Dwemer and Falmer.
- Private wings – the jarl’s chamber, Faleen’s and Raerek’s rooms and an Imperial war room. Wandering in here counts as trespassing.
- Alchemy lab and arcane enchanter round out the amenities.
Quests
- Becoming Thane of Markarth
- Nimhe, the Poisoned One
- The Lost Expedition
- Find a Daedra Heart for Moth gro-Bagol
- Search and Seizure
- Hard Answers (Thieves Guild) unlocks the laboratory and tower
Notable items
- Alteration skill book Daughter of the Niben on a stone table at the top of the outer stairs.
- Conjuration skill book The Warrior’s Charge in the jarl’s chamber.
- Respawning Dwemer metal scraps near the excavation entrance.
- Two refilling chests in the shadowy corners of the throne room – some items are tagged as stolen.
- A chest and a locked case with ingots, reached by following the stream outside the jarl’s bedroom.
Tips
The Dwemer scrap near Calcelmo respawns every few days, so it’s a handy free source of metal for smiths. Mind the stolen tags on the throne-room chest loot. If you plan on browsing the museum, sort out Calcelmo’s permission first – the guards there are notably arrest-happy.
Good to know
If the Stormcloaks take the Reach, Thongvor becomes jarl with Reburrus Quintilius as steward and Yngvar the Singer as housecarl. Oddly, the keep plays dungeon music rather than city music – fitting for a palace built inside a Dwarven ruin.
Details checked against community wiki articles and the Skyrim game files, summarised in our own words.