Anvil Recommendation Anvil Recommendation is a quest in . As part of the " Join the Mages Guild " questline , the Hero must gain a recommendation from an Altmer Spellsword named Carahil who serves as the leader of the Anvil Mages Guild . Unlike other tasks needed to gain a recommendation for access into the Arcane University , and thereby advancing in the guild , the " Anvil Recommendation " quest requires combat with a mage experienced in the use of frost spells . Background . Near Anvil , merchants are being robbed and murdered along the Gold Road that links Anvil and Kvatch . Due to frost and signs of freezing found on the victims , Carahil suspects a mage . Because the Council of Mages has given the task of investigating the crime to Carahil , she wants the Hero to deal with it and supplies them with intelligence and scrolls of Frost Shield to help with the task . Walkthrough . Rogue mage and Frost Scrolls . Travel to Anvil and speak with Carahil ; she is a tall Altmeri woman at the front desk of the Anvil Mages Guild . Select the " Recommendation " option and learn about a mage who is killing merchants along the Gold Road north of Anvil and west of Kvatch . She instructs the Hero to travel to Brina Cross Inn and speak with Arielle Jurard , a battlemage from the Arcane University . Selecting the " Rogue Mage " dialogue option prompts Carahil to explain that the corpses of the mage ' s victims were burned by frost magic and give three scrolls of frost shield to improve the Hero ' s chance of victory in the coming fight . Brina Cross Inn . Walk , ride a horse , or Fast Travel to Brina Cross Inn , enter , and speak with Arielle , a brunette Breton woman in brown clothing . As per her instruction , speak with the innkeeper , Christophe Marane , and rent a room for the night . When he asks about the Hero ' s destination , select the option of being a merchant . Upon doing so , an unavoidable conversation with Caminalda occurs where she expresses concern for the Hero due to the recent murders . Go up the stairs and open the last door on the right . Arielle follows and tells the Hero to get some sleep , then start traveling down the Gold Road first thing upon rising . It is mandatory to sleep for at least one hour ; sleeping more does not alter the coming events much . Preparing . Leave the inn . Two battlemages , Arielle and Roliand Hanus , will be waiting outside . While Arielle says not to talk to them , it does not alter the events if either is spoken to . Exit the inn ' s enclosure via the gate and head towards Kvatch along the road . Eventually the murderous mage will approach the Hero and initiate dialogue . The Battle . The murderous mage is Caminalda . Leveled , she employs a frost touch spell , a summon skeleton or clannfear spell , and Reflect Magicka . Roliand and Arielle join the battle immediately , wearing leveled heavy armor that caps at steel . Summoned creatures and offensive scrolls can help , since regular spells deplete heath if used on her . If Arielle or Roliand die in the battle , the outcome is not altered . Using enchanted weapons can help , since she reflects spells cast at her . Basic weapons are also sufficient , as she only wears a Blue Velvet Outfit . Dispatch the mage and take the key from her corpse . She also carries health and sorcery potions . Afterwards , Arielle expresses her gratitude . Reward . Return to Carahil to be rewarded with the recommendation . If the key was looted from Caminalda ' s corpse , it opens her room at the inn , where a chest with gold coins awaits .