Windward Ruins are the remains of an abandoned Nordic fort southwest of Dawnstar. These days the only residents are a couple of skeevers, which makes it one of the least threatening ruins in Skyrim. Most adventurers come here for a reason – a quest pedestal near the far end of the ruin – rather than for the decor.
What you’ll find
- Two skeevers. That’s the whole garrison.
- A pedestal towards the end of the ruin used for a Destruction quest.
- An adept-locked chest with random loot.
- Snowberry bushes growing among the stones.
Quests
- Destruction Ritual Spell – place Power of the Elements on the pedestal and hit it with a fire spell to move the quest along.
- Kyne’s Sacred Trials – the Guardian Skeever appears here during the first stage.
Notable items
- Adept-locked chest with random loot.
- Snowberries and Skeever Tail for your alchemy bag.
Tips
Bring a fire spell if you’re here for the ritual – any fire spell does the job, so you don’t need anything fancy. Make sure you actually have Power of the Elements with you before making the trip, or you’ll be admiring the view and nothing more. The adept lock on the chest is manageable with a few spare lockpicks. The skeevers will not trouble anyone past the tutorial, but they do make a good excuse to collect a tail or two. Afterwards, Dawnstar is close enough for a quick walk back to sell your loot and warm up by a fire.
Nearby
Closest places covered on TamrielSaga: Red Road Pass, Mzinchaleft, Dawnstar, Great Lift at Mzinchaleft, Nightcaller Temple.
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.