Skyrim:Embershard Mine

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Walkthrough
Exterior
There is a slightly hidden path that leads from the banks of the White River to Embershard Mine. It's recognizable by the wooden slats that lead up towards it. As you approach the mine itself, a bandit will warn you to stay away, and rush to attack you if you linger or continue to approach. There's a wheelbarrow, a wood chopping block, and woodcutter's axe by the barrels or to the opposite of wood chopping block between some old rotten wood pile, just outside of the entrance. There is also a beehive above and to the right of the entrance.

Embershard Mine
thumb|right|Embershard Mine Interior
The mine itself is fairly well lit, but a light source will definitely come in handy. There are lots of fly amanita to harvest throughout the mine. As you descend into the mine, there is a falling rock trap that can do a fair amount of damage if you are low-level. If you sneak in, you'll hear two bandits mentioning the guard outside and the trap. There is a pickaxe next to their campfire in case you need one to start harvesting iron ore. Further down is an intersection that will lead you to a collapsed tunnel section where you will find a coin purse and a tattered journal. Going to the left will lead to a small drinking area and a lever which will lower the bridge. If the two bandits have been killed, this alerts two more bandits who will charge at you immediately. If you manage to remain hidden from them, they will split up and become easy targets to kill.

After crossing the newly opened bridge, there will be a dark tunnel. There is a coin purse above you near the base of the bridge. It can be snagged manually with a little careful maneuvering, shot down, or, with some luck, you can activate the lever to raise the bridge, and then attempt to cross it as it raises—it will propel you upwards and place you atop the entrance to the dark tunnel. Moving forward, as you pass a small window to another area on your right, another bandit will come at you that has the Embershard Mine key on them. The nearby prison cell is empty, but where the bandit came running from contains a chest containing leveled loot, several sacks, and a Spell Tome: Clairvoyance. There are also several barrels containing Alchemy ingredients. Further into the mine, the main living area of the bandits is found. Three more bandits will attack, including an archer. The room has three levels, a campfire, and lots of good loot to be found. The bottom floor contains a crafting area, several iron ingots, and a copy of the Smithing skill book Light Armor Forging. If you have the Fishing creation, some Fishing Supplies can be found here. Fish from Underground waters can be caught here. The mid-level contains a kitchen and pantry section with lots of food items, a chest, and several gems. A path behind the kitchen leads to a coin purse and yet another chest nestled next to the waterfall. The top path will lead out to another pathway filled with bone rattle alarms and the exit back outside just southwest of Riverwood.

Ingredients
One sample of charred skeever hide
Ten clusters of fly amanita
Three hanging moss plants.  One of these can be harvested by jumping from the rails along the path to the "rear" entrance.
One salt pile
To the right of the "front" entrance, outside, is a beehive hanging on the underside of a ledge.

Iron Ore Vein Locations
Next to the first campfire after you first descend into the mine.
First intersection between the collapsed tunnel and bridge lever room.
Bottom of the tunnel just after the bridge next to a wood pile.
Just past jail cell behind boards that look like they are holding the wall up.
Hallway just past the jail cell next to a wood pile.
Bottom level of the large room between the water and the forge, under the walkway.
Middle level of the large room next to the waterfall. Take the path behind the kitchen. Right outside the doorway to the left.
Path from the top level of the large room next to a bone rattle alarm, just before the Riverwood exit.
In addition to the 8 veins inside the mine there are two more outside the back exit from the mine, about ten paces ahead and slightly to your left.

Notes
One stone quarry  can be found to the left of the entrance, just beside the wooden cart.
Entering from the unmarked exit may result in the two bandits behind (now in front) of the bridge you need to manually lower not spawning. It appears the trigger for them to spawn is lowering the bridge from the entrance side.
If the two bandits in the first chamber are alive (or reanimated) when the bridge is lowered, the two bandits that usually spawn and run across it will not spawn.
Unlike most bandit hideouts, there is no Bandit Chief located here, even if the player has a bounty quest that tells them to kill the leader here. It will usually be a normal bandit, or on rare occasions, a Bandit Outlaw.
How come I found two Bandit Chiefs with my level 7?! There was bandit outside of the mine, then two where first bedrolls are, two when bridge was lowered, one guarding the room with first chest to be found, then three of which one is Bandit Chief and another Bandit Chief rushing to help in the fight and the last two. In total 11 bandits are in the mine.

Maps