Rising at Dawn is the standard way to get rid of vampirism in Skyrim. The cure is offered by Falion, the wizard of Morthal in Hjaalmarch, who has spent years studying the undead and spots a vampire at a glance. All he needs is a filled black soul gem, an early morning meeting and a client who is not ravenously hungry.
How to start
Once you have become a vampire, ask any innkeeper or bartender in Skyrim for rumors. They mention that Falion in Morthal has been experimenting with draugr, vampires and other undead, which starts the quest. The quest can be repeated every time you catch vampirism again.
Before talking to anyone, make sure you are not at the final stage of vampirism, otherwise people attack on sight. Without the Dawnguard add-on, you can fix this by waiting for night and feeding on a sleeping person.
Walkthrough
Speak to Falion
Travel to Morthal, north of Whiterun. Falion’s House is the second house past the blacksmith. Visit after 6 PM, when he is home, and he will immediately see what you are. Ask about a cure and he explains that he can perform a ritual to lift the curse, provided you bring him a filled black soul gem.
Bring a filled black soul gem
Falion sells a black soul gem himself, though the price may be steep early on. Cheaper options:
- Fort Snowhawk, west of Morthal, is full of necromancers who often carry black soul gems. Take a gem from one, then cast Soul Trap on another necromancer before killing them to fill it.
- Broken Fang Cave always has a black soul gem on a small shelf to the left of the Arcane Enchanter in the room with the beds.
Meet Falion at dawn
Hand Falion the filled gem and he tells you to meet him at the Summoning Stones north of town at dawn, between 4 and 6 AM. Feed before the meeting: if you are too far gone, Falion will not trust you and may attack. If he does turn hostile, a Calm spell (or the Imperial power Voice of the Emperor) stops him long enough to finish the ritual. Step into the circle, talk to Falion and wait while he calls on the powers of Oblivion. The screen fades to black, and when it clears you are mortal again.
Rewards
- Vampirism is cured (including the Vampire Lord form from Dawnguard)
Tips and notes
- The Summoning Stones are hard to find: they stand on the western of the two peninsulas just north and slightly west of Morthal. Scout the spot in daylight, or wait outside Falion’s house until 3 AM and follow him when he leaves for the ritual.
- Do not hold Falion up so he reaches the stones after dawn. If he misses the window, he keeps the soul gem and the quest cannot be completed.
- The journal entry says to meet him at the Black Marsh, even though the ritual actually takes place at the Summoning Stones outside Morthal.
- Buying the gem from Falion through the dialogue option counts as a bribe, and you can pickpocket the gem back from him right after handing it over.
- If you become a vampire while serving the Dawnguard, Isran sends you to Falion at the end of A New Order and puts the questline on hold until you are cured.
- Returning to Castle Volkihar as a mortal draws pointed remarks from the court, and Lord Harkon may insist on turning you again.
- If lycanthropy cures your vampirism while the quest is active, you can still finish it; there is just nothing left to cure.
