Skyrim:Totems of Hircine

Quick Walkthrough
# Travel to the indicated location on your map.
# Retrieve the Totem by any means necessary.
# Return to the Underforge, then use one of the totem receptacles to complete the quest and receive your reward.

Detailed Walkthrough
Accepting the Quest
Asking Aela the Huntress, "Is there any work to be done?" will prompt her to tell you about the Totems of Hircine. She will say that she has located one and would be honored if you go with her to retrieve it. If you accept the quest, she will become your Shield-Sister and will replace your current companion.

Retrieve the Totem of Hircine
thumb|right|Aela prays to the Totem
Journey to the location given by Aela and kill the enemies lurking around. The location is radiant, and it can be any animal den, vampire lair, or warlock lair with a boss chest. The totem is most often found in the boss chest. Once you have the totem, Aela will approach and ask if you have it. When you tell her you do, she will tell you to bring it back to the Underforge. When you return to the Underforge, place the totem on the marked area—the quest will finish and you will receive a leveled amount of gold. You can now pray to the totem to receive a new power while in Beast Form, which replaces your old one.

There are three total totems, each granting a different ability in Beast Form.

Reward
 

The Totems of Hircine
thumb|right|Left to Right: Totem of the Hunt, Totem of Fear, Totem of Brotherhood
The totems are described in detail in the tome, The Totems of Hircine. By praying to these totems, you will be given a unique ability that replaces the older Howl of Terror; it is activated by pressing the shout button while in beast form. All abilities last for 60 seconds, though the duration can be increased by 15 seconds by equipping the Ring of the Moon  before activating Beast Mode.

Totem of Fear: Causes Fear
Totem of Brotherhood: Summons 2 Pack Members
Totem of The Hunt: Grants Detect Life

 

Notes
 
You can only trigger this quest if you are still a werewolf. If you have purified yourself, you are unable to do this quest.
If Whiterun is under attack, you cannot enter the Underforge until Whiterun is back to normal. It will tell you a key is needed to enter and that it cannot be lockpicked.
At the end of this quest, Aela will begin praying to the new totem in the Underforge. It is possible to ask her to follow you while she is praying; her dialogue will change, and she will allow you access to her inventory, but will not stop praying or move away from the totem.
Aela will not give these quests while she is an active follower, though she will give Animal Extermination quests.
If you have just dropped off a totem in the Underforge, Aela will be praying to it and only offer an Animal Extermination quest (dialogue option, ''"I'm looking for work"). Leave the Underforge, return, then talk to Aela again. Repeat until Aela (still in prayer) offers the next totem quest (dialogue, "Is there any work to be done?"'').

Bugs
 

  This can be resolved by manually advancing the quest with the console command  .
 
  One method that has been found effective is to pray at one of the previously acquired totems. Aela may then appear at the entrance of the Underforge.
 
 
 Firstly, use the console command  . Then, get an Animal Extermination quest from Aela. Now use the console command   or   (depending on which version of the quest you're assigned), and return to Aela to finish the quest. Ask for work from her again and use the command   to complete the quest, and go to the Underforge to place the totem, which completes this quest. Repeat these steps 2 more times for the remaining 2 totems. The crucial part seems to be to Tab out of the conversation before Aela finishes her voiceline, when finishing the Animal Extermination quest. If you keep her dialog open, she will have another Animal Extermination for you. If you close the dialogue before she finishes, she will have a dialogue for the Totems of Hircine quest.  Alternatively, this can be fixed by marrying Aela, then again asking her for work after deciding on a place to live.  
 
 This can be fixed on Xbox 360: You need lots of healing and dual-casting master illusionist abilities.  Have her as a follower, take away all her weapons and give her a cheap sword. Then punch her enough times to get her to attack you (heal yourself as needed). Go through the front exit so you are outside of Jorrvaskr... she should follow you out and continue to attack you. Lead her off a good ways at which point, Dual-cast Calm on her and immediately talk to her and have her re-join you. Test her compliance by drawing a weapon or spell (she should do likewise, not just stand there - if she doesn't draw, restart the process). Once she's drawn a weapon, fast-travel to another location. She should now act normally, and if a spouse or steward, should remain at other locations when dismissed.
 
   The item is located in an inaccessible cell within Jorrvaskr.  By the way, this problem may also occur for another totem (e.g., the third instead of the second totem).  Furthermore, the quest log may offer nothing more than the direction to go collect the totem.  Anyway, to resolve this problem, open the console and type   which will move the player to a small interior unlighted cell after closing the console.  The totem will be found on the ground.  Pick up the totem to advance the quest.  Next reopen the console and type   and the player will now move to a position beside Aela the Huntress.  She should then ask the player if he or she has the totem and the quest can now carry on as normal.

Quest Stages