Raven Rock Mine ( Dragonborn ) Raven Rock Mine is a derelict ebony mine located in the most northern part of Raven Rock . It was owned by the East Empire Company before the ebony eventually dried up and they abandoned Raven Rock . In reality , the miners once broke into an old tomb , also known as Bloodskal Barrow . They managed to wake up the Draugr in the crypt and most of them , if not all , were killed . The East Empire Company sealed this part of the mine and closed the whole of it with the excuse that the mine was dried up . It proved after that this was not the situation , and the mine is reopened after the featured quest is completed . Quests . The Final Descent . Crescius Caerellius tasks the Dragonborn with finding his great - grandfather ' s journal and remains deep within Raven Rock Mine . An Axe to Find . Glover Mallory asks the Dragonborn to retrieve an Ancient Nordic Pickaxe from Crescius Caerellius . He may be found inside Raven Rock Mine . Walkthrough . Upon entering the mine , the path starts down to the north , then turns left , where Crescius and Aphia Velothi are arguing . Wooden steps lead up to a platform with a bed , table , and little else . Another set of wooden steps , then wooden ramps lead down . At the first dirt platform is a junction with paths leading east and south . The southern path quickly leads to a dead end . The eastern path quickly leads to a fork . Continuing east leads to another dead end with a frostbite spider . The north branch leads down a short ramp , past a large pit on the left , turns west , and proceeds down two longer ramps , where two more spiders lie in wait . At the bottom of the second ramp , the mine turns left ( south ) , then gradually turns left ( east ) , where another spider is waiting . Another wooden ramp leads down to a dirt platform where an opening to the east can be seen , but is apparently blocked by several pieces of wood . The wood pieces can be attacked , which knocks them down . Through the opening , an expert - locked East Empire Company strongbox is on a wooden crate , while to the left ( north ) is a locked gate that can be opened with the Raven Rock Mine Key ( which Crescius gives along with the quest " The Final Descent " ) . Through the gate and down a ramp , the mine slopes down to a crypt with a water - covered floor and several leveled draugr . A chest is available high against the west wall . On the east end of the room is a swinging spiked gate trap that can be difficult for a follower to pass without being explicitly directed . The mine leads up to the east , turns left ( north ) , then left again ( west ) , where another draugr is waiting , along with another crypt area . After a jog right and then left around a short wall , the way continues west up some steps , and the rough mine becomes a finished stone cavern . Through an open door is a large circular room with a large grate on the floor and several dead draugr ( on the grate and sitting in thrones around the walls of the room ) . Upon entering the room , several leveled draugr will attack . Through the door on the other ( west ) side of the room is another room with a soul gem on a pedestal against the southwest wall . To the right ( north ) then left ( west ) is a table with two dead draugr and several potions . Just to the right is a stalhrim deposit , which , when mined , reveals another dead draugr . To the right of the deposit is another table , this one with a soul gem and several ingredients . The cave turns to the east , where an alchemy lab can be found , along with several more ingredients , including two netch jellies on the back of the lab table . The cave turns left ( north ) , where two soul gem powered shock traps are found . Beyond them , the cave drops down to an area with a water - covered floor and turns right ( east ) to an iron door . Beyond the door is a tall room with several draugr patrolling a bridge above the floor , plus another patrolling the floor area itself . At the east end of the room , behind a waterfall , is an apprentice - locked door to Bloodskal Barrow . Turning right , a short set of stairs leads to a ledge on the south side of the room overlooking the floor . Backtracking to the west along the ledge leads to a wooden log ram that leads up to a higher ledge . Proceeding back to the east along the higher ledge , there is a gate to the south that cannot be opened , then eventually , at the eastern end , is the bridge to the left ( north ) . The other side of the bridge leads to another ledge to the left ( west ) with an arcane enchanter at the western end with an expert - locked chest underneath . Opposite the enchanter is a pedestal that , when activated , opens the gate on the other side of the room that was passed earlier . Through the gate , the cave leads to a T intersection . To the left ( east ) , a spell tome for the Ice Spike spell is on a pedestal in what is otherwise a dead end . To the right ( west ) is a spiral ramp leading up , with an adept - locked chest underneath and behind it . Up the ramp is a room away to the east with a shock trap ; behind the shock trap is a false wall , open by a chain behind the left torch , inside is an adept - locked chest and some loot . At the other end , the path turns left ( north ) , then jogs left and right , eventually leading to a caged walkway to the north above the room with the waterfall . On the other side is a room with a poison dart trap . At the north end of the room is a wooden door leading to a closet with an adept - locked chest inside . Along the west wall , an opening leads to a rough area of the cave . The path winds north and west , then opens high on the south wall of a very large room with two waterfalls . The only way to proceed is to fall down to the raised area directly in front , then again to the ledge above the river . At the bottom end of the river is a chest . Back at the north northwest end of the room are the bones of Gratian Caerellius , which are part of the Final Descent quest . Directly ahead is a door flanked by two columns , all of which are glowing red . Read " Passing Through the Bloodskal Door " in " The Final Descent " quest article for information on how to open the door and what is beyond . After unlocking the door , there are multiple swinging blade traps that can cause difficulty for a follower to get through . Be warned that even with disease immunity from Lycanthropy or Vampirism , these traps may still transmit diseases such as Rock Joint and Rattles . Beyond them is a gate opened by a lever to the left . In the room beyond is a chest , but simply walking up to it causes the Dragon Priest Zahkriisos to appear . After he is defeated , at the east end of the room is a Word Wall for Dragon Aspect . Back at the west end , the path to the right ( north side ) leads to a lever that closes or opens the gate . Beyond that is a on a pedestal , an arcane enchanter against the right ( north ) wall , a chest against the opposite wall , plus a spiral staircase leading up to a door to Bloodskal Barrow . Bloodskal Barrow . Back in the room with multiple levels of ledges , if the door to Bloodskal Barrow is entered , the area is a dead end . Directly up the steps is a stalhrim deposit that , when mined , has another draugr behind it . Other than two urns flanking the deposit , there is nothing else available in this area . At the other entrance ( at the end of Raven Rock Mine , near the dragon priest ) , the cave climbs up to the west northwest , then comes to a rock wall with a pull chain to the left . Activating it opens the wall . Beyond is a cooking area with an alchemy lab , defended by several reavers . Further on , a campfire is on the right with five dead draugr around it . Continuing on , there are more reavers . In the northwest corner of a square area are the bodies of a High Elf and an Imperial . Up the steps at the end is a door to Solstheim .