Skyrim:Hob's Fall Cave

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Walkthrough
Exterior
Hob's Fall Cave is at the end of a path enclosed by sheer walls of ice, which starts at the shoreline to the northeast and ends at the entrance. Usually, a leveled animal will be found by the shore where the path begins. Several clams and spiky grass plants, and a few blood splatters, are along the path. Another leveled animal is on the ice above and to the west of the entrance.

Hob's Fall Cave
left|thumb|Isabelle Rolaineright|thumb|Wooden palisadeIf you are on a certain quest, upon entering, Isabelle Rolaine lies dead in front of you. She carries a letter. Past her, the tunnel turns to the north, then opens into a two-level cave. This cave contains several small empty cages, a cart filled with bones and a canis root, and empty wine bottles scattered all over the floor. Above you to the north is a ledge with a wooden palisade along the edge. The tunnel to the west is the only way forward at this point. (you can climb the ledge if you are patient, see Bugs section)

The tunnel twists and turns before continuing to the north. There is a skeleton patrolling this section. Shortly after the tunnel turns to the west, a necromancer sits at a table on the right with their back to you. There is a copy of The Book of Daedra in front of them, along with an empty random soul gem and a potion of healing. To the right is an unlocked chest in front of a bookcase containing copies of Beggar Prince and The Bear of Markarth, and another copy of The Book of Daedra. The tunnel continues on until it turns west and you see a lit brazier; take care, as around the corner to the right, a skeleton and a necromancer lurk.

left|thumb|Wooden bridgeThe tunnel continues up a steep incline then turns east, where a wooden bridge spans a deep cavern. There's another necromancer and skeleton pair on the far side. Sounds of fighting may draw a patrolling necromancer from the tunnel beyond the bridge. When you turn due east again and see a descending slope in front of you, beware, as there are two necromancers and a skeleton in the room at the bottom.

Just before the entrance to the room, a tunnel branches off to the left. After a few twists, you'll find two skeletons in the tunnel. At the end, it opens into the chasm you previously crossed; the bridge is above you. Below, accessible by an earthen ramp to your left, is a room with a necromancer. The cupboard here holds an unusual gem needed for the No Stone Unturned quest, a random potion of healing, two random potions of magicka, an apothecary's satchel, and several common books. Below the ramp is an alchemy lab, and on the table to the right of that, at the bottom of the ramp, you'll find the Restoration skill book The Exodus. In the pit under the bridge with the unusual gem right above the shelf where the gem is located, there is a chest on a ledge with an adept-level lock.

Backtrack to the cave with two necromancers and a skeleton. On your left are two sets of shelves. The first contains a random magicka potion, a random healing potion, and a copy of ''Boethiah's Proving''. The second contains three bottles of Nord mead, three bottles of wine, and an apothecary's satchel. To the northeast, on another raised section, are an apprentice-locked chest and a bookcase containing a random magicka potion and a random healing potion, another apothecary's satchel, and copies of The Wispmother, Aedra and Daedra, The Aetherium Wars , The Firmament, Frontier, Conquest, The Oblivion Crisis, and Gods and Worship. With the Arcane Accessories Creation installed, an "Ancient Tome Chest" containing all 16 new spell tomes can be found here. Against the wall on the other side of the room is an arcane enchanter with a copy of the Enchanting skill book ''Enchanter's Primer'' on top. To the east in the middle of the wall is a tunnel barred by spears; the chain to lower them is to the right.

In the next room are three spellcaster traps that shoot Frostbite spells at you as you pass. It's easy enough to approach from the side and grab the gems safely, as they only shoot straight ahead. Continue to the south to find another necromancer patrolling the tunnel near a rise. At the end, the tunnel turns to the west by two barrels and then immediately to the north, rising up into a large two-leveled room with three more necromancers on the upper level.

right|thumb|The final roomOn the bottom level is a ramp leading up to the left of a lit brazier and a wooden bench against the back wall. On the upper level is a table being used as an altar, with several benches arrayed in front. The corpse of Larina, who you heard shouting when you first entered the cave, will be on the altar if she was not raised during the boss fight. The altar also holds a black soul gem and a random potion of lasting potency. Beside the altar is a small wooden table holding a leg of goat, a pheasant breast, a raw rabbit leg, an iron dagger, and a random magicka potion. There is a boss chest to the left of the altar which will contain Pantea's Flute, a quest item for the Bards College, among other loot (see bugs).

To the west are two hanging cages and a large, expert-locked cage containing two more corpses that may be raised. Past these is the ledge with the wooden palisade seen earlier, providing a shortcut back to the exit.

Notes
If you are at least level 30, you can start the quest Boethiah's Calling by reading ''Boethiah's Proving.
Hobs are hairless monkey-like creatures sometimes used as servants.
After Larina has been sacrificed, you can overhear the necromancers carrying out a ritual to the   to create a black soul gem if you approach the altar:
::"We offer this soul to The Revenant: he who watches over the opponents of Arkay and his power over life and death. Fie upon Arkay and his followers! Fie!"
::"Yeah, fie!"
::"Fie. We beseech you. Darken this gem so that we may use its power to restore The Order of the Black Worm. The Order shall rise. Grant us this power so that in your name we may vanquish our enemies."''
:Interrupting the ritual does nothing, as the soul gem is already black.

Bugs