The White Phial ( Quest ) The White Phial is a quest available in . Nurelion , a dying Altmer alchemist , is the owner of The White Phial , the Windhelm apothecary shop that bears the name of a magical phial that he has spent much of his life in search of . Background . He explains to the Dragonborn that the White Phial is a magical vessel made from Unmelting Snow gathered at the Throat of the World and that it purifies , amplifies and refills any liquid placed within it ; the ultimate embodiment of Alchemy itself . He has finally discovered its location but is too old and sickly to retrieve it on his own . Consequently , he seeks the aid of the Dragonborn in his quest to recover it . Walkthrough . Upon accepting the quest from Nurelion , he will produce Nurelion ' s Mixture to help gain access to the phial . It is learned that the Forsaken Cave is the final resting place of his coveted phial and that the cave is located west of Windhelm . Forsaken Cave . The Dragonborn will encounter Snow Bears or Ice Wraiths upon entering the cave , and later draugr as they progress deeper into the cave . The corridors lead into a small chamber guarded by several draugr . Two of the draugr stand in alcoves on the wall , and can be killed before they wake up . An adept locked door to the left of the entrance contains basic loot . Then path continues to the north - west , passing through a room guarded by two leveled draugr , and ends at the door to the Forsaken Crypt . On the shelves beside the door are several helpful potions . Forsaken Crypt . The Dragonborn enters into a room patrolled by a single draugr , then follows the path east to a bridge leading over the first room that they had entered . On the other side of the bridge is a draugr and a chest . A room to the north is guarded by two draugr , and the a circular section in the middle of the floor will attempt to crush the Dragonborn against spikes on the ceiling when first stepped onto – this occurs even if the Light Foot perk has been purchased . An expert locked door to the left of the entrance leads to a chest containing basic loot , before the path continues southwards to a covered walkway . Two draugr wait on the other side of the walkway , and a further two wait in alcoves around the corner . Proceeding through the iron door , the Dragonborn passes through a hallway with two swinging axes into Curalmil ' s burial chamber . Upon entering the room , Curalmil emerges from his sarcophagus , accompanied by several draugr guards . A platform behind the sarcophagus contains a chest and a Word Wall for the Marked for Death shout . A passageway beneath the Word Wall leads to a room containing a basin that can be activated and filled with Nurelion ' s Mixture . This opens a hidden door into the chamber containing the White Phial . There are also many alchemical ingredients , several potions , and the skill book " A Game at Dinner " . A door in the south corner of Curalmil ' s burial chamber leads back to the Forsaken Cave . A lever on the wall opens a hidden door , and the Dragonborn emerges into the room where they had first encountered the bears . Returning with the Phial . Upon returning to his shop in Windhelm , Nurelion has become even sicker than before . Upon inspecting the phial , he is livid that the phial is cracked and vociferates at having sent such a clumsy adventurer to retrieve his life ' s ambition . With his lifetime dream broken , he is crushed and only manages to reward the Dovahkiin with 5 . Nurelion ' s apprentice , Quintus Navale , may optionally be spoken to , as he is much more sympathetic to the Dragonborn ' s ordeal , he explains that Nurelion is not well and parts with a more reasonable reward of 500 . Repairing . After completing the quest " The Throat of the World " ( or if it is completed already ) , Quintus sends a letter by courier regarding the White Phial . After reading the letter , the follow up quest will begin : " Repairing the Phial " .