The Ghost of Old Hroldan is a short ghost story set at Old Hroldan, a lonely inn on the banks of the Karth River in the Reach. The innkeeper Eydis likes to brag that Tiber Septim himself slept here after the Battle of Old Hrol’dan. One night in that famous bed and you will discover that at least one of his old soldiers never left.
How to start
Talk to Eydis at Old Hroldan Inn. She will talk up the history of the place and offer to rent you Tiber Septim’s room for 10 gold. Ask her about the battle and she tells the tale of Septim’s victory over the Reachmen and how, as Hjalti, he is said to have rested at the inn afterwards. Pay for the room and sleep in that bed until after 1:00 AM.
Walkthrough
Meet the ghost
Some time after 1:00 AM, Eydis’s screaming wakes you. She swears a ghost is wandering the inn as if it owned the place and mentions old stories that one of Tiber Septim’s soldiers haunts the building. Head into the common room: the Ghost of Old Hroldan is sitting in a chair enjoying a drink.
Speak to him and he greets you as Hjalti, believing you are his old brother in arms. Hjalti had promised him his sword so the two could become sworn brothers, but the soldier was killed in the fighting at Hroldan before the promise was kept. He has waited ever since for Hjalti to come back and honour the pledge.
Find Hjalti’s Sword
Ask Eydis about the sword. She sends you to one of eight possible locations, chosen at random:
- Broken Tower Redoubt
- Bruca’s Leap Redoubt
- Deepwood Redoubt
- Druadach Redoubt
- Hag Rock Redoubt
- Red Eagle Redoubt
- Serpent’s Bluff Redoubt
- Sundered Towers
Most of these are Forsworn or hagraven strongholds, so expect a proper fight. Clear your way to the marked spot and take Hjalti’s Sword.
Bring the sword to the ghost
Return to Old Hroldan and give the sword to the ghost. With the promise finally kept, he rewards you with training and the quest ends.
Rewards
- +1 One-Handed.
- +1 Block.
Tips and notes
- “Hjalti Early-Beard” was Tiber Septim’s original name. The ghost probably confuses you with him because you are both Dragonborn. Eydis does not recognise the name but rightly guesses it could be one of Septim’s many names.
- You can stumble on a copy of Hjalti’s Sword in one of the possible locations before the quest starts. It counts as a quest item and cannot be dropped until handed in.
- The ghost sometimes appears to sit on an invisible chair; this is cosmetic.
