Online:Prisoner of the Past

Quick Walkthrough
# Enter the Midnight Barrow.
# Recover the Jarl Hagridden's remains and watch the visions connected to them.
# Leave the barrow and find Alwyn outside.
# Answer Alwyn's question.

Detailed Walkthrough
thumb|right|Learn the truth behind Jarl Hagridden's betrayal

A Nord woman, Alwyn, is being haunted by the ghost of her distant ancestor, the disgraced Jarl Hagridden. He begun appearing in her dreams since she arrived in Dusktown, and has barely gotten any rest. She believes her ancestor was calling her to Midnight Barrow to finally put him to rest, but the place is filled with grave robbers who have angered the dead, leaving her too afraid to go in alone.

Exploring the barrow with Alwyn, the two of you collect Jarl Hagridden's remains in the hope that you can finally put him to rest and end his torment. Starting off at the entrance to the south, you can head east into the first chamber, then head north and turn east until you reach a small rectangular room containing  . Picking it up will show you a vision of the jarl speaking with a strange woman he calls Essenia, arguing against her wishes for some form of sacrifice for her immortality. Alwyn will comment that her ancestor was likely never married and no woman had been mentioned by any family member recounting Hagridden's betrayal. 

Continuing east, two rooms over   sits in the corner of a small room. Picking it up will show a vision of Jarl Hagridden lying prone on the ground, being confronted by Swordthane Ysmal. He is accusing the jarl of betraying his hold, and of sending his soldiers to their deaths on purpose. The jarl weakly argues that he gave no such order, but the swordthane refuses to hear any of it. After the vision fades, Alwyn expresses her surprise that this was his crime, explaining that she was told he alerted the Reach of an attack but no one ever said why, and that it never seemed to make sense. She also notes the surprise in Jarl Hagridden's voice at the accusation in the vision.

Heading east then north two rooms, in the northwestern corner of Delida the Damned's chamber lays  . Again, picking them up will show a vision, this time of Essenia relaying orders from Jarl Hagridden to Swordthane Ysmal, dismissing his concerns when he questions why he is being sent so far into the Reach. Once they disappear, Alwyn comments that she must have had a lot of influence to have been able to boss a thane around like that. 

Finally, going west into a more natural-looking passage,   is found lying in the middle of the rough stone path. The final vision plays out in front of the two of you, showing Jarl Hagridden being sentenced by his swordthane to never reach Sovngarde. Swordthane Ysmal's voice and movements are full of hatred and venom, and Hagridden argues against the accusations of treason, pleading that it was Essenia who betrayed the hold and that she should be in his place. The swordthane ignores him as he gives the final order to bury him alive.

Alwyn immediately flees the barrow, not wanting to be inside it longer than necessary. Talking to her outside, she appears somewhat out of breath and shaken by the whole experience. She asks for her ancestors remains, expressing pity for him despite her nightmares. She believes eternity in the Midnight Barrow is cruel, even for what he supposedly did. Alwyn also expresses that from the visions it seemed more as if Jarl Hagridden were the one betrayed and not the one doing the betraying, and asks for your take. No matter the answer, she promises to give him a proper burial, the specifics being different depending on wether you claim he is innocent or guilty. She will thank you, and give you a reward for helping her.

Notes
Lady Essenia, who appears in several visions, also appears during The Lady of Blood.
 

Quest Stages