Rjorn’s Drum is one of the instrument hunts you get after joining the Bards College in Solitude (Haafingar). Giraud Gemane has finally worked out where the bard Rjorn died: inside Halldir’s Cairn, southwest of Falkreath. The drum is still there, and so is Halldir, who would rather you left it alone.
How to start
- Complete Tending the Flames to become a member of the Bards College.
- Ask Giraud Gemane for work. He tells you about Rjorn and Halldir and sends you to Halldir’s Cairn.
Walkthrough
The entrance chamber
Just inside the cairn you find a strange pillar of damaging energy surrounded by corpses. A small pedestal nearby holds Agrius’s Journal, which explains what happened to the three unlucky bandits, and a key for the nearby Adept-locked door.
Through the cairn
The cairn itself is a classic Nordic tomb with sleeping draugr and ghosts. Partway in, a draugr sits on a throne next to a blocked door. Deal with him, then pull the lever behind the throne to open the way.
The pillar puzzle
A later burial chamber has three rotating pillars. The correct symbol for each pillar is carved on the wall it faces. Turn all three to match, then pull the lever to open the sealed door. Pulling it with the wrong combination sets off an arrow trap instead.
Defeat Halldir
In the final room you meet Halldir himself. When he drops to about 75% health he splits into three copies, one casting fire, one frost and one shock spells. You have to put down all three clones before the real Halldir comes back to finish the fight. He carries a unique staff, and the chest next to him holds Rjorn’s Drum plus some leveled loot.
Back to the College
Open the trap door in the middle of the room and drop down using the wooden platforms to land back in the entrance chamber. Return to the Bards College and give the drum to Giraud.
Rewards
- +1 to One-Handed, Two-Handed, Archery, Block, Heavy Armor and Smithing
- Halldir’s unique staff
- Leveled loot from the cairn
Tips and notes
- The key on the pedestal next to Agrius’s Journal opens the Adept-locked door, so you do not need lockpicks to get in.
- Read the wall carvings in the pillar room before touching the lever. The wrong combination only triggers an arrow trap, but there is no reason to take the hits.
- Halldir’s clones each lean on a different element, so resistance potions or enchantments for fire, frost or shock make the fight noticeably easier.
- On some versions, finding the drum before you have the quest can stop the quest from being marked as completed, although Giraud still pays out. It is safer to pick up the quest first.
- Rjorn’s Drum is one of three instrument quests at the college, alongside Finn’s Lute and Pantea’s Flute.
