The Forgemaster’s Fingers is the Orcs’ entrance test. Walk up to an Orc Stronghold as an outsider and the gate guard tells you to keep out, unless you can find a pair of legendary enchanted gauntlets that nobody has ever brought back. Deliver them to the chief and you are named Blood-Kin to the Orcs, which opens every stronghold in Skyrim to you.
How to start
Approach the gate of any Orc Stronghold, such as Dushnikh Yal, Mor Khazgur or Narzulbur. The guard stops you and invokes the Code of Malacath. Do not provoke them, or the whole stronghold turns hostile. Instead, ask how you could earn entry. The guard mentions the gauntlets, hidden and guarded by dangerous men, beasts or worse, and marks a location on your map. Agree to find them.
You do not need this quest if you play an Orc, because you are already welcome. It also becomes unnecessary once you have earned Blood-Kin status another way.
Walkthrough
Find the Forgemaster’s Fingers
The gauntlets sit at a radiant location, so the dungeon differs from game to game. Travel to the marker, fight through whoever or whatever holds the place, and take the Forgemaster’s Fingers from the end of the dungeon.
If the marker points to Rebel’s Cairn, you need the sword Red Eagle’s Fury to get in, which means starting The Legend of Red Eagle first.
Bring the Forgemaster’s Fingers to the chief
Return to the stronghold and give the gauntlets to the chief. Stunned that anyone pulled it off, he names you Blood-Kin to the Orcs by the Code of Malacath and spreads the word to every stronghold. Reply graciously, or grumble that it had better be worth it and earn a warning about respect; either way the reward is the same.
Rewards
- Blood-Kin to the Orcs
- Peaceful entry to all Orc Strongholds
- Trade with stronghold smiths for Orcish weapons and armor, training from the warriors and poisons from the wise woman
Tips and notes
There are several other ways to become Blood-Kin:
- Finish clearing Kolskeggr Mine for Pavo Attius in Kolskeggr Mine; the Orc miner Gat gro-Shargakh then tells the strongholds about you.
- Bring a Daedra heart to Moth gro-Bagol in Understone Keep, Markarth. This may no longer work in later patches.
- Find the smithing book Ghorza gra-Bagol in Markarth wants for her apprentice. She also becomes a marriage candidate.
- Help Ainethach drive off the Silver-Blood mercenaries in Sanuarach Mine, without making him sell, then speak to Lash gra-Dushnikh.
- With Dawnguard, finish A New Order, after which Durak passes on word of your status.
- Complete The Cursed Tribe. Its first part opens Largashbur, and finishing it grants entry everywhere.
- Return enough books to Urag gro-Shub at the College of Winterhold.
If the Orcs turn on you while you try to hand over the gauntlets, speaking to the chief at midday while he is outside has worked for some players. Otherwise use one of the methods above.
