Skyrim:Deathbrand (quest)

Quick Walkthrough
Note: You must be level 36 before you can start this quest.
# (Optional) Read Deathbrand.
# Find the treasure map.
# Locate the four ancient chests containing the pieces of Deathbrand armor.
# Explore Gyldenhul Barrow.
# Defeat Haknir Death-Brand and his crew.

Detailed Walkthrough
Tale of Treasure
Haknir Death-Brand was known for rages and fits of madness, and he delighted in torture and murder for its own sake. He was said to have lived an unnaturally long life, and displayed a terrible scar on his face known as "the Deathbrand", which no man could look upon without flinching. Due to the terrible scar, some thought of him as a Daedra while others spoke of a pact he made with Mehrunes Dagon, calling the scar a seal between him and the Prince of Destruction. Before his death, he told his crew that none were worthy to be his successor or have his treasure. He placed a curse on his armor and his scimitars, Bloodscythe and Soulrender. He commanded a crewman to bury his armor in four separate locations on Solstheim, each marked by a map, before sealing him in his tomb at Gyldenhul Barrow along with all his treasure.

This story was written down by a House Redoran scribe and ended up as the book Deathbrand. Once you have reached level 36, reading the book will start the miscellaneous objective to find Haknir's treasure. There are a total of eleven copies of the book on Solstheim. Please see this section for a complete list of locations.

thumb|"Boss said to bring you back or bring back your corpse."Additionally, you may overhear an argument in the wilderness between a female pirate and a male pirate mage:
:Pirate: ''"I told him 'no' once already."
:Pirate Mage: "We've got work to do."
:Pirate: "I'm not chasing that map. It's a fool's errand. I'm done. Leave me alone."
:Pirate Mage: "Boss said to bring you back or bring back your corpse."
:Pirate: "Is that so? Well, you'll never get that treasure now!"
:Pirate Mage: "Time to die!"''

After their argument, they will attack each other over the discussed treasure. If you stand aside during their fight, the pirate may lose the battle, and you can loot a copy of the book from her corpse.

The Silent Scream
According to the book, Garuk Windrime and the rest of the crew arrived on a shoal in northern Solstheim, where they started digging the hole for the first of the four iron-bound chests. The same night, Garuk's heart was filled with greed; he opened the chest, took out the helm within and placed it on his head... and then began to scream. Although it remains unclear what happened to Garuk, it is said that his scream can still be heard on that same shoal, on moonlit nights.
thumb|right|"I told you. Just where the map said it would be."
After reading the book, a map marker will point you towards Haknir's Shoal, a small campsite along the coast in northeastern Solstheim. Travel to the camp and you will find it inhabited by pirates and their captain. If you manage to sneak up on the camp, you can overhear their conversation: 

:Pirate: "See? I told you. Just where the map said it would be."
:Captain: ''"We don't even know what's inside. And besides, there's... the curse."
:Pirate: "Don't tell me you believe that rot! Well, as soon as Jorn gets back, you'll see. You'll see."''

From here, it is possible to kill the pirate captain and his followers or simply pickpocket the captain and steal the Deathbrand Treasure Map he is carrying. Once you have obtained the treasure map, the quest will initiate. Search the camp for the half-buried ancient chest and pick the expert-leveled lock. Inside, you will find the Deathbrand Helm, the same helm worn by Garuk Windrime, although the rumors of his scream on moonlit nights turn out to be highly exaggerated.
The Treasure Hunt
With one of the four chests found, three remain. Take a good look at the treasure map, and it becomes clear that Haknir's crew followed orders and placed them as far apart as possible. Note that you will have no map markers and will receive no quest updates until you have claimed the contents of all four chests.


 
 
 
 
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Tel Mithryn (Southeast)
Travel to the home of Telvanni wizard Neloth and find the river west of the settlement. Where the river flows into the Sea of Ghosts, a family of netch floats around. To the northeast of the netch family are several boulders in a pile, and three ash spawn will attack as you get close. Search the area for the ancient chest (screenshot) and notice that two treasure hunters beat you to it, but paid with their lives. Pick the expert-leveled lock on the chest and claim the Deathbrand Boots.

Raven Rock (Southwest)
thumb|right|"We... we actually found it!"
Southwest of Raven Rock is the Earth Stone. Head to the stone and proceed in a north-northwestern direction until you reach a small pine forest, with a family of netch floating around above the water nearby. As you get closer, you will see a reaver and a reaver lord discussing the chest they just dug up:

:Reaver: ''"I can't believe it. We... we actually found it!"
:Reaver Lord: "Well, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and open it."
:Reaver: "No, no, I couldn't. ...You open it."
:Reaver Lord: "Maybe... we should think about this some more."''

When they discover you, they will obviously be hostile. Deal with them both and locate the ancient chest (screenshot), pick the adept-leveled lock and claim the Deathbrand Armor.

Bristleback Cave (Northwest)
The hidden dock, Northshore Landing, is located at the foot of the icy mountains of northwestern Solstheim. A small ways southwest of the dock is a small camp inhabited by rieklings guarding the entrance to Bristleback Cave. Proceed south along the shore and you will find a tidal pool with some mud crabs and the ancient chest (screenshot). Pick the adept-leveled lock on the chest and claim the Deathbrand Gauntlets. 

A Cursed Trove
In whichever Deathbrand Armor chest (above) you open last, you will find the Gyldenhul Barrow Key, and the quest will update. The map marker will now point you towards the Nordic ruin, Gyldenhul Barrow.

thumb|left|80 piles of gold
thumb|right|Skyrim:Haknir Death-Brand|The King of Ghosts
Gyldenhul Barrow is located on Horker Island, east of Skaal Village. It is guarded by a few patrolling reavers. The door has a master-level lock on it, but the key you found will open it. Inside, you will find a dead Adventurer carrying a note detailing how his search for treasure ended in the small barrow. He had to barricade himself inside, waiting for a group of bandits to disappear from outside the ruin. In the meantime, he noticed a small draft from behind one of the two stalhrim deposits, although his pickaxe was unable to break them down. Approach the western stalhrim deposit and use your ancient Nordic pickaxe to tear it down. Behind it is a narrow tunnel leading further into the ruin. Unlock the door and enter a wide tunnel filled to the brink with piles of gold—a total of 80 piles, each worth between 80 and 120 gold, along with several pieces of jewelry, chests, and other valuables. However, as you start to loot the place, a portcullis will fall behind you, so the only way is onward.

When you have claimed the huge treasure from the room, proceed to the southern door and unlock it with the key. Head down the tunnel until you reach a large chamber with the skeletal remains of Haknir Death-Brand. Next to the skeleton lies the legendary scimitar Bloodscythe. Once you claim it, Haknir Death-Brand's ghost will appear and attack you, then teleport away after he loses about 20% health. Members of his crew appear to fight you, including Garuk Windrime and Thalin Ebonhand. As you kill some of them off, Haknir Death-Brand will spawn again, and the cycle will repeat until he is dead. Once defeated you'll attain another unique scimitar named Soulrender. It has an added effect when dual-wielded with Bloodscythe. Also when Haknir falls, the way back out will re-open.
 

Deathbrand Locations


Notes 
It is possible to avoid fighting his crew by killing Haknir in one blow (sneaking with a dagger, for instance). It is also possible to instantly kill him using the Wabbajack.
The treasure map is filed under the miscellaneous section of the inventory, not under books.

Bugs
 
  Note that the treasure map is a Misc item, not a Book.
  

Quest Stages