Skyrim:Highpoint Tower

Related Quests
 

Walkthrough
Exterior

left|thumb|Highpoint Tower chestScathecraw and Trama root plants are scattered about the exterior of the tower. At the southwest of the structure lies a heart stone deposit. Located at the top of the tower is a chest, accessible through a gap in the base of the walls. Alternatively, the chest can be reached by climbing counter-clockwise around the tower, then jumping onto a ledge. 

The tower's entrance is through a tunnel at the northern end of the structure, guarded by two leveled ash spawn. The entrance to the tower's interior is at the end of the corridor and will be blocked by ash until you have started the quest Old Friends.

 

Highpoint Tower

The first chamber in the tower is a circular room covered in ash with a spiral staircase leading downward. On the ground there is a steel dagger, a pair of iron gauntlets, three pieces of firewood, a woodcutter's axe, and several barrels. To the south there is a caved-in room holding two barrels, four bottles of Nord mead and two fly amanita fungi.

Follow the spiral staircase downward and you come to a landing with a deer pelt, a bottle of wine, some veggetables, cutlery, and firewood. Additionally, the landing holdsan open chest containing a coin purse and an empty common soul gem.

Further down the stairs, on the next landing, are a long wooden table and a chair. On the table are a random Potion of Stamina, another random potion, and the first volume of Ildari's Journal. In the first volume of her journal, Ildari expresses contempt for her saviors and promises to exact revenge on her former master, Neloth.

Continue to follow the stairs downward. At the bottom of the next flight of stairs sits a long wooden table to your right. Two steel ingots, two sacks, and a barrel sit on top of the table, and an open crate, a barrel, and another sack are placed beneath it. To the left of the staircase are a fish barrel and a cowhide. Against the west wall is a broken archery target with two steel arrows sticking out of it and a quiver of steel arrows beside it. The path then continues down a corridor lit by candle sconces.

right|thumb|Exploding spider eggsAhead, the corridor opens into a cave with several spider egg sacs around the perimeter. Three of these are traps and will burst open to release a flame spider if you are detected. These egg traps can be triggered from a distance with a destruction spell. A pair of iron gauntlets lay on the ground to your right, along with a steel sword at the center of the cave. To the southwest is a tunnel from which two flame cloaked spiders will emerge, followed by two albino spiders. Up the stairs to the right is a spellcaster trap that will fire at the spiders as well as you.

Two tunnels can be found in the cave, one to the south and one to the northwest past the spellcaster trap. In the tunnel leading south, there is an albino spider egg that can be harvested for a damaged albino spider pod and two ruby geodes. The tunnel continues to and eventually joins up with the other tunnel from the cave room. An albino spider patrols this area and the northwest end of the tunnel is covered in spiderwebs that can be cleared away with weapons or spells. 

left|thumb|More spider eggsPast the webbing you enter another cave chamber that descends into a lower level ahead of you. On the lower level, you will see two glowing spider eggs which will produce jumping frost spiders when moved. Against the central pillar are two sapphire geodes. To the left of the albino spider eggs is a set of small antlers, an imp stool, and an emerald geode. A ramp leads to the lower level, where there is an albino spider egg, a pair of iron boots, and a set of iron armor. Another ramp leads back up to the chamber's entrance with a coin purse, a steel dagger, and a pair of iron gauntlets near the top. On left is an imp stool fungus and an amethyst geode. 

From the first cave, follow the corridor past the spellcaster trap, which is partially caved in and patrolled by an ash spawn. On the left are some sacks, barrels, and crates. As you come up on a lit doorway on the left, you will be able to see another spellcaster trap further down the corridor to the north. Through the doorway is a room held up by wooden scaffolding. Another ash spawn haunts the room to your left. On your left as you enter is a chair, past this is a naturally lit area below a hole to the outside above, on a rock is a bird nest containing a pine thrush egg. Further around the wall, to the right is an open chest containing a plate, a goblet and an unlocked strongbox with another goblet beside the chest. At the rear of this room two more ash spawn will rise from the ground and attack. To the right of the entrance is a set of shelves containing two leather strips, a drum and a deer pelt, with a sack and four iron ingots in front and an anvil that's knocked over and unusable to the left.

Back in the corridor thereis a barrel to your left. Be sure to retrieve the soul gem from the spellcaster trap as you pass. The hallway comes to a few stairs descending to a doorway with crates on either side. Through this door is a circular room trapped with tripwire that activates a falling boulder trap. Either disarm this or walk around it. Additionally, in the center of the room is an elemental rune trap. A wooden bridge spans above from southwest to northeast with a caged skeleton hanging from the bridge. To the left there is a torture rack and an arcane enchanter with three empty soul gems sitting on top. A basket containing a pair of leather boots sits under the enchanter. 

To the east is a corridor which leads past a wooden block and a woodcutter's axe. Following this path, you pass a barrel and an open crate containing a pickaxe on your right, and several crates and a cow hide on your left. On the wall in front of you is an elemental rune trap. Near the trap is a junction in the corridor running north to south; to the south are a collection of cells and to the north is a lit brazier on the ground.

left|thumb|Niyyaright|thumb|On the ceiling Following the path to the south, you see a crate with a salt pile, a charred skeever hide and a random book and a sample of wheat beside it. Through the doorway will lead you to a room filled with cells and a tabel and chair in the middle. On the chair is the second volume of Ildari's Journal, which chronicles her growing paranoia concerning the miners and her plans to experiment on them. There are three cells in the room; the first two contain human bones, but in the third cell is a prisoner named Niyya. If you release her, Niyya will provide a bit more context on what has happened here and will ask that you don't kill her too quickly. She will then turn and run from the tower.

Turn back the way you came and follow the corridor that leads north. By the brazier you saw earlier there is a candlestick, a steel war axe, and a meduim coin purse. Behind some of the rubble is a Namira's rot fungus and a set of fine clothes. Above this is an open crate containing two coin purses and a flawless diamond. Here the wall has been broken through; head east to enter a tunnel shortly after the flooring turns to wooden planking and descends. Up ahead is a Orichalcum ore vein on the eastern wall as well as a second on the western wall. Further down the ramps, the path turns to the north to enter a large chamber scattered with wooden scaffolding and ramps.

There is a broken cart containing a knapsack on your left. In the eastern corner of the chamber is another orichalcuum ore vein and a wooden ramp leading higher. Under the ramp is a broken cart holding some pieces of firewood and a woodcutter's axe. Next to the scaffolding is a gold ore vein, and there is a sapphire geode against the wall to the west. In the center of the chamber is a rock pillar surrounded by scaffolding and ramps. Follow the ramps leading up and you will find a small table in the northern corner. At the top of the pillar is a sapphire geode.

thumb|left|The Skyrim:Ash Guardian|Ash Guardian device In the northwest of the chamber is an opening, through which you can see two damaged towers each with three pillars capped with white lights. Wooden scaffolding leads up to the towers and connects them. As you enter this area, Ildari will appear at the top of the of the last tower and give a speech criticizing Neloth for sending a "low-life" to finish her off. The pillar will spark to life and an ash guardian will appear in the middle. In addition to the ash guardian, there are five ash spawn to defeat, making this a challenging battle. 

Once the enemies have been dealt with, you can find a deer pelt and a blue mountain flower in the cave. Behind the ash guardian is a ramp with an archway to the right at the top. Turn right before reaching the arch, jump onto the ledge, and follow the cave wall to find a Namira's rot. Passing through the arch leads to a cave with three imp stools, four white caps, a fly amanita, two blisterworts, and two Namira's rot, along with a bleeding crown and imp stool fungus sample on a crate. Additionally, the cave holds two pairs of boots, a pair of iron boots, a flower basket, a crate containing random hats, a wedding wreath, a gold jeweled necklace, a silver emerald necklace, and a coin purse. Behind the crate is a cart containing two goat cheese wheels, two loaves of bread, a red apple, and two bottles of Alto Wine.

Back at the arch, a pile of rubble sits to the left that can be jumped on to reach the top of the wall. To the left is an open crate containing a sample of lavender, a black soul gem, and a copy of Souls, Black and White. On your right are an empty cart, a pile of firewood a wood chopping block, a woodcutter's axe, and a potion.

Back in the main area you should find up to three rock warbler eggs. At the top of the first ramp, under the second ramp is a set of small antlers and a thistle branch with an open chest containing a leveled invisibility potion, a bowl of spriggan sap and two bowls of bone meal. Just after is a fish barrel on your left and at the rear of the first tower are two more barrels, an open chest partially buried in the ash, a crate with an apothecary's satchel and a random book on top and a basket with a pair of leather boots.

Continue to the top of the first tower, cross to the second, and descend inside. To the right of the ramp you just descended, there is an alchemy lab with two bowls of bone meal on top and a giant's toe in a bowl to the left. Additionally, a bowl containing two hawk feathers and a hawk beak are to the right. On the left side of the alchemy station is a wooden table with an unlocked strongbox and Ildari's Journal, vol. III on top. The left side of the tower holds several sets of selves. The first contains a snow fox pelt, a beehive husk, a torchbug thorax, a sample of frost mirriam, three soul gem fragments, two garlic bulbs, an empty petty soul gem, and a bowl containing a sample of snowberries. The second shelf holds a sample of tundra cottom, a cup, a loaf of bread, an Eidar cheese wheel, a bowl of glow dust, and three leveled potions; one of magicka, one of healing, and one of stamina. The third shelf contains a flawless sapphire, a ruby, a blue mountain flower, a red apple, two bowls of fire salts, two empty common soul gems, a soul gem fragment, two blue moutain flowers, two Chaurus eggs, a loaf of bread, and a copy of ''Ahzidal's Descent''. On the table against the other ramp is a bowl containing a bottle of alto wine and a random book. There is a goat hide sitting under the table. To the right, under the ramp, sits a barrel and a fish barrel with a loaf of bread on top. Beside the fish barrel is a crate holding a wolf belt and a basket holding a gourd. 


left|thumb|Ash spawn A ramp leads back down to the southwest. Follow it to find two sacks and a tunnel leading away in the same direction. The tunnel takes a few turns before splitting after the second turn toward the southeast. At the end of the bottom tunnel is an ash spawn. Three more leveled ash spawn will rise and attack you from all sides. After dealing with them, follow the right-hand side of the tunnel as it ascends. Jump up at the end of the tunnel to find a skeleton along with a pair of Skaal boots, a coat and a hat. Turn to the west and jump up onto the ledge to find a pair of gloves and an unlocked strongbox.

After collecting these, drop back down to the lower level and continue along the tunnel. At the end is a hole in the wall of the fort, and a bleeding crown fungus on the left. Pass through the hole and turn left. At the top of the stairs sits a barrel. Following the stairs down you will find a cave in. Among the rubble is an open chest holding two leveled poisons and an iron helmet. Additionally, an imp stool is growing inside the chest. Follow the corridor past a lit brazier on the right. You cross over the previous circular room with the tripwire trap by the entrance. Past this, the corridor narrows and turns to the southeast. A few paces along, there is a sack and a crate with leather strips on top to the left. The corridor turns right twice and then comes to a room with two levels. Ildari is on the top level opposite you.

Exercise caution when dealing with Ildari, as there are two lighting traps protecting her. She is a powerful mage and armed with staff of lightning bolts. Deplete her health until she kneels and cannot be damaged further; this is your opportunity to take her heart stone by ripping it out or pickpocketing it from her. Once the heart stone is removed, she will drop dead. 

On the ground level under the overhang is an arcane enchanter. To the left is an open crate containing a sample of elves ear, a bowl of fire salts, and a sample of bonemeal; along with an open chest holding a deer pelt. To the right of the enchanter, there are a sack and two barrels. A set of small antlers and a sample of juniper berries lay on top of one of the barrels. Nearby is an open crate containing a filled petty soul gem. Beside the pillar supporting the overhand is a crate with a random book inside, a barrel, and a soul gem. Atop the barrel is a sample of bonemeal and an empty lesser soul gem. To the southwest, a doorway leads to the stairs up to the room's second level. In the northern corner is a chopping block with a woodcutter's axe and firewood.  

Under the area where Ildari paces is another pillar supporting the upper level. There are two barrels, four sacks, and a couple of crates beside it. A bowl of frost salts sits on top of one of the barrels and there is a leg of goat on one of the crates. Against the southwest wall, there is a sideboard with two sacks, a cow hide, and a leather strip on top. Three more sacks lay to the left of the sideboard. Against the rear wall are two crates. There is a deer pelt on one of the crates, a kettle holding an iron helmet and iron boots in front of them, and a bleeding crown growing between them. In the middle is a block of wood with an iron sword, a pair of boots, firewood, and an open crate holding a coin purse and a silver ring. Above this area hands a cage holding a skeleton that can be looted. 

right|thumb|Ildari Following the stairs up, you come to the area where Ildari was pacing with a stone bridge connecting the two parts of the upper level. In the middle of the southeast wall is a fireplace with a rack holding a dead rabbit and a sample of frost mirriam. There is a chair, goblet, and bottle of wine in front of the fireplace. To the left is an exit blocked by raised spears and another rack holding two pheasants and a garlic braid. In the northern corner of this area is a crate with a deer pelt on top. To the right of the bridge is a mead barrel and a goblet. 

Cross over the bridge to the other section of the upper level. In the western corner on a raised section is a boss chest. To the left of the chest is a table with a bowl glow dust and a dragon's tongue flower. To the right of the chest is a set of shelves holding a fox pelt, a leveled healing potion, a leveled magicka potion, a bowl holding a garnet, diamond, and emerald, and a bowl containing hawk feathers. On top of the shelf is a bowl and plate holding an orange dartwing. Against the northwest wall is a sack, a crate, and a barrel holding four pieces of wheat. In the northern corner is a bed, a small wooden table, a pair of boots, and a bottle of wine. There is a plate holding an Eidar cheese wedge and a rabbit haunch under the bed. Two nightshades and a deathbell are at the front of the raised area. The lever to lower the spears from the first section is to the left of the bridge. 

Through the doorway that had been blocked by spears is a spiral staircase leading upwards. Part of the way up, an open chest with a bowl, goblet, and candlestick are on the right. The staircase continues up, leading to a hidden door with a chain on the left. This opens back to the caved-in room right by the tower's entrance.

Notes
Just north of the prison, where the hallway turns east, there is a chest embedded upside down in the ceiling. On the inside of the lid, behind a rolled up rug, there are two coin purses and a flawless diamond. Because of the angle, it can be difficult to get at the items, even with Telekinesis, but Telekinesis will work if you're facing at just the right spot as you approach from the other end of the hall. It may be easier to use an explosive spell to scatter them.
There are only 2 Wedding Wreaths found in the game.
When facing incoming melee attacks, one of the ash spawn in the very last group will very likely try to run away as fast as he can, all the way to where Ildari stays and past her.  If the two lightning traps next to Ildari have not been disabled, the explosions caused by this ash spawn will dislodge the soul gems on the traps, thereby disabling both of them and thus trivializing the final battle.
 

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