Lost Legacy is a Dragonborn side quest in which Tharstan, a historian living in the Skaal Village, hires you as his bodyguard. An eruption of Red Mountain has shaken loose a new entrance to an ancient tomb on Solstheim, and he wants to see it without getting killed. The tomb belongs to Vahlok the Jailor, and it is packed with riddles, draugr and all three words of Battle Fury.
How to start
Finish A New Source of Stalhrim, then speak to Tharstan in the Skaal Village. He has heard how you went looking for Baldor and offers paid work. After the talk he sets off for Vahlok’s Tomb.
Walkthrough
The entrance chamber
The entrance sits in a rift in the ground running north from the tomb. Go inside and talk to Tharstan. Nearby is an etched tablet above a trapdoor fire pit with a handle below it. Its riddle speaks of a sacrifice bringing you closer to what you seek. Drag a nearby draugr corpse onto the trapdoor and pull the handle. Two torch-lit routes open.
The first key
Take the left (south) bridge into the tunnels, through an iron door and a crypt full of draugr, then pull a chain to open a gate. Inside stands a glowing monolith with three faces and a bow, a sword and a staff lying on the floor. The inscription reads that all men die, often by their own means. Each face shows a weapon symbol; hit the pillar opposite each face with the matching weapon (sword on the sword side and so on). When all three stones glow, the north gate opens.
Draugr burst from coffins in the next room, among them a draugr deathlord carrying the Amethyst Claw, Left Half. The Word Wall here teaches the first word of Battle Fury, and two chests sit in front of it. Tharstan translates part of the wall: a guardian once defeated Miraak, who is called a traitor. A small opening to the west and a pull chain lead back to the central cavern.
The second key
Take the right (north) bridge, follow the dirt path to stairs on the north wall and continue past a table with urns and a soul gem and an adept-locked chest. You reach a raised floor of nine stone squares with the riddle about following the path without treading where you have been. Start at the bottom-left (southeast) square and spiral: right (north), up (west), left (south), then one square east and one square north into the centre. Every square must be stepped on exactly once; the spears blocking the way then retract.
A second deathlord and more draugr wait beyond; the boss drops the Amethyst Claw, Right Half. The second word of Battle Fury is on the west wall, with a chest in front. A shortcut on the south wall takes you back to the main chamber.
Vahlok’s bridge
Place both claw halves in the keyholes either side of the steps to the caged central platform. The gate opens to a third riddle warning that idling means death, and a handle. Pulling it creates a bridge of magical panels that vanish shortly after appearing, so keep moving and always jump to the farthest panel. On the far side, a solid path forms for Tharstan and a gate opens. Three more bridges follow, each a little faster than the last. Corrupted shades lurk in the water below, and barred wooden doors offer a climb back up if you fall. Tables along the way hold urns, gems and a soul gem.
The hall of stories
A long hall ends at a Dragon Claw door. Tharstan reads hints from the damaged etchings: wind, then the night sky and moon, then fire and scales. The combination from top to bottom is Hawk, Wolf, Dragon. Climb the stairs and pull the chain on the gate to enter the main burial chamber, which also holds the third Battle Fury word and a chest.
Vahlok the Jailor
The side paths are lined with fire traps. Approach the sarcophagus and Vahlok wakes, summons a flame atronach and wraps himself in a flame cloak. He relies on fire Destruction spells such as Firebolt, Incinerate and Flames, so fire resistance is your friend. Once he falls, Tharstan pays you and wanders off to study the Word Wall, finding that the loyal guardian earned an honourable death.
Talk to Tharstan
Speak to him once he is done. He is thrilled to have seen a real dragon priest and hands over your pay. Ask him about the tomb and he shares his theory: Vahlok was revered by men and dragons alike for defeating Miraak, probably a fellow dragon priest who turned on his own order; Miraak was then banished to Solstheim with Vahlok as his jailer. He also suspects the ancestors of the Skaal were ancient Nords who came here with the dragon priests and built the tomb, though he admits it is guesswork. As for the traps and puzzles, he thinks they kept out intruders and tested who was worthy. Tharstan then stays behind to study the wall, and you have to walk all the way back to the entrance to leave.
Rewards
- 1,000 gold from Tharstan.
- All three words of the Battle Fury shout.
- Loot from Vahlok, the two deathlords and the many chests.
Tips and notes
- Tharstan’s running commentary on the Word Walls tells the story of the guardian who beat Miraak: a traitor defeated, a guardian who inspired men and dragons, and a loyal servant rewarded with an honourable death.
- Vahlok is the only named dragon priest who does not drop a mask.
- You can ask Tharstan to repeat the inscriptions or to give hints on the puzzles.
- All the magical bridges except the last can be crossed with Whirlwind Sprint.
- Lure draugr away from Tharstan where you can; he is a scholar, not a fighter, and says so himself.
